Over 7,000 lawyers to hit the streets
Over 7,000 lawyers will today hit the streets of London to raise funds and show their support for the free legal advice sector.
The London Legal Walk, now in its ninth year, will attract a record number of walkers following effects of the recession as well as April's legal aid cuts, which have made the provision of free legal advice even more vital.
The London Legal Walk is the largest of many legal walks taking place across the country, attracting the support and participation of senior judges, lawyers and politicians, including the lord chief justice, the president of the Supreme Court, the master of the rolls, the attorney general and the director of public prosecutions.
Today's walk is expected to raise over £500,000 for charities who provide free legal advice in London and the South East.
The 10km sponsored walk will take walkers past some of London's legal landmarks, including the Royal Courts of Justice, the Law Society and Middle Temple.
Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, president of the Law Society, said:
'There has never been such a need for free legal advice. This year's legal aid cuts mean that thousands of people will be left with nowhere to turn for help. Free legal advice centres play a vital role in reducing the damage done by the civil legal aid cuts.
'The Law Society is proud to support legal advice centres by taking part in the London Legal Walk, while continuing to negotiate with the government over legal aid.'
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Notes to editors
1. For media queries or to send a photographer, please contact Clare Wills at the Law Society Press Office on 0207 316 5624 or clare.wills@lawsociety.org.uk or contact Natalia Rymaszewska at the London Legal Support Trust on 0207 092 3972 or natalia@llst.org.uk.
2. The London Legal Walk is organised by the London Legal Support Trust (LLST) and sponsored by the Law Society.
3. On the day of the walk, Monday 20 May, walkers will depart from the Royal Courts of Justice, finishing the walk at the Law Society on Chancery Lane. The lead walkers will gather in the main hall at the Royal Courts of Justice from 16:50 for the lead walker photographs which will take place between 17:10 and 17:20.
4. To follow the events live or join in the debate on Twitter, use the hashtag #legalwalk