Press Release
Tender Opens For First Two New Legal Centres
25 May 2006
The Legal Services Commission today opened its tender process for the first ever Community Legal Advice Centres. The Centres are part of a series being established in some of the most disadvantaged areas in England and Wales.
The first centres will be established in Gateshead and Leicester. The Gateshead tender will run until 12 noon 18th August 2006 and the Leicester tender will run until 12 noon 24th August 2006.
The centres are joint funding initiatives between the Legal Services Commission and Leicester and Gateshead local authorities. They bring together civil legal aid funded by the LSC with social welfare services provided by the local authorities to provide better help for people in greatest need, to provide more coordinated and cost-effective services and to be more able to tackle the common causes of local problems.
Clients visiting the Centres will be able to get legal help and representation for a range of social welfare and family problems at the same time. Research shows that people commonly have several related problems but they often have to seek advice from different places for each one. People experiencing family problems, for example, are more likely to also experience debt or housing problems. The new Centres will provide linked services for frequently linked problems.
The tender winners will gain three-year contracts to run the Centres and will play a hands on role in developing and evaluating the service to inform the future delivery of civil legal advice services.
Tenders are invited from organisations, or groups of organisations operating together, who can supply integrated general and specialist legal advice and representation in a wide range of legal disciplines.
Applicants must have experience in delivering specialist legal advice and representation in relevant areas of law and be able to set up and deliver services in locations that ensure access to advice, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Over the past year the LSC has managed to increase the number of people receiving civil legal help to a six-year high. These centres are part of plans to continue that trend.
Crispin Passmore, LSC Director of the Community Legal Service said:
“The Community Legal Advice Centres will give service providers an opportunity to help develop the best ways to meet the needs of vulnerable clients at a local level. The financial certainty of three-year contracts offers suppliers an opportunity to develop, high quality, integrated service alongside Local Councils and the Commission. Most importantly, the Centres will present a much needed gateway to the legal system that clients can access simply in times of crisis“.
Cllr Roger Blackmore, Leader of Leicester City Council, said:
"We are urging local advice providers to consider the best ways to help us target those most in need of advice services. It is most important that we provide an integrated response ensuring that people get advice right from initial enquiries through to representation in court and at tribunal. We are very pleased that the Legal Services Commission has selected Leicester for this exciting and important development".
Roger Kelly, Chief Executive of Gateshead Council, said:
“We are convinced that joined-up working will lead to less duplication in management and administration and, crucially, more seamless services for clients.”
The successful provider or group of providers will sign a contract jointly with the Legal Services Commission and the local authority containing performance standards and key obligations.
The Local Councils and the Legal Services Commission will jointly decide on the successful bid in October, providing lead-time for a planned opening in March 2007.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon 18 August in Gateshead and 12 noon 24 August in Leicester.
Media seeking further information can contact:
Michaela Keating (020 7759 0444)
Press Officer, Legal Services Commission
Notes to Eds.
1. Tender packs and further information are available from:
Leicester web details
Gateshead web details (select Gateshead Council from the drop down list and enter the Contract ID: GCC/PLN/6Q2FTA)
Last updated: 28 December 2006