Legal Outreach Services celebrates first Birthday!

A groundbreaking legal outreach service which was launched in Clacton last year is celebrating its first anniversary.

The scheme, the only one of its kind in Tendring, was set up by leading Colchester solicitors Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP with support from the Legal Services Commission and since its inception has helped scores of local people access legal advice on family law matters such as housing, employment, welfare benefits and community care.

Family law specialist and solicitor Nigel Humphreys from Fisher Jones Greenwood said: “It has been a huge success and we are really pleased to have made such a difference to people’s lives. Our focus is the provision of outreach services and telephone advice for isolated and vulnerable client groups. We can provide legal aid to those who are eligible and free initial advice to those who are not. We see around 23 new clients every month seeking advice on a variety of family law issues ranging from divorce and separation to problems with children and housing and welfare benefit concerns.”

Under the scheme a specialist solicitor is available five days a week either in the morning or afternoon at the Citizens Advice Bureau office at 18 Carnarvon Road and a service also operates every Tuesday from the Citizens Advice Bureau at 298 Main Road in Dovercourt. Telephone conference facilities are available in both offices if urgent advice is needed from specialist lawyers in Fisher Jones Greenwood’s Colchester premises. Although many clients are referred through agencies anyone in need of advice can make an appointment to see a solicitor.

Mr Humphreys added: “Fisher Jones Greenwood is one of the few firms to still offer legal aid services and we are committed to continuing to help those in the Tendring area needing legal advice and assistance for as long as possible.”

For further information on the Tendring outreach legal service please call 01206 578282