HCLC News

On Wednesday 21st November, HCLC was delighted to welcome Lord Willy Bach (pictured right) and one of our fantastic patrons Jon Robins, editor of the Justice Gap to the Centre.  

Lord Bach, a former barrister, who has served as both Justice Minister in Government and Shadow Justice Minister in opposition, has been a staunch supporter and defender of Law Centres around the country.     As well as leading the fight against the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) in the House of Lords, Lord Bach also serves as a patron of Coventry Law Centre.

Jon Robins joined HCLC as a patron in March 2012 and has been an invaluable addition to our team.  As well as giving us all tremendous support for our work, we are also working on a Public Legal Education project with Jon, entitled 'Mind the Justice Gap'.  

You can read more about that project HERE. Welcoming the visit from Lord Bach and Jon Robins, HCLC Chair Ian Rathbone said: "We were pleased and honoured that Lord Willy Bach was able to visit the centre.  During his visit he noted the innovative approach we have developed to helping people in Hackney with our pop law shops in libraries and other projects we are undertaking.  Lord Bach has been instrumental in the fightback against the draconian legal aid cuts and we wish him well as he continues to do what he can to ensure poor people can still have access to the justice system.  I know he sees law centres as an important part of that. We were also delighted that our patron Jon Robins, who has done so much to support the law centre this year, was able to accompany Lord Bach." See some pictures from the visit below:

Lord Bach and Jon Robins meet HCLC current interns Shabia and Martin 

Lord Bach and Jon Robins talk to solicitor Diane Morrison

Lord Bach and Jon Robins listen to solicitor Paul Heron

 Lord Bach and Jon Robins meet Senior Immigration Caseworker Hilton Von Herbert and manager Sean Canning