Central England Law Centre (CELC), with offices in Coventry and Birmingham, is a charity providing free legal information, advice and representation. The organisation has been named a finalist for the Legal Aid Firm / Not-for-Profit Agency award at the 2026 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards. This recognition coincides with CELC’s 50th anniversary, highlighting five decades of standing alongside local communities to ensure access to justice for all.

Founded in 1976 as the Coventry Legal and Income Rights Trust, CELC has grown to support around 10,000 people annually with legal information and advice, providing tailored support to 4,500 individuals each year. Its work spans housing, employment, immigration, family law, welfare benefits, discrimination, health and social care, and public law. Getting a person’s disability-related welfare benefits reinstated, ensuring people are treated fairly at work, helping families to remain in their homes when threatened with eviction, securing leave to remain in the UK, or obtaining non-molestation orders for protection from a violent partner are just a few examples of the ways CELC uses its knowledge and legal expertise in social welfare law to protect rights. For 50 years, CELC has embedded rights within communities, ensuring people facing the most difficult challenges are not left to navigate complex legal systems alone.

Chief Executive of CELC, Elayne Hill said: "Being named a finalist for a national Legal Aid award in our 50th year is a proud celebration of our work. It recognises five decades of supporting communities and highlights the positive difference we make, shining a spotlight on the vital role of law centres in making legal rights real and accessible."

CELC’s 50-year mission remains as urgent as ever. Being a LALY finalist reinforces the importance of this work. CELC helps people get a voice in care proceedings so that children can remain with family, secure the right care package for a disabled child, and ensure mental health conditions are acknowledged and supported. With renters’ rights continuing to attract significant media attention, including widespread coverage of the new Renters’ Rights Bill designed to give tenants more security in their homes, CELC has been supporting tenants across Coventry and Birmingham to understand and exercise their legal protections, while continuing to provide specialist advice across a wide range of legal issues.

Elayne added: "Recent headlines around renters' rights show just how important access to legal advice remains. While housing issues have rightly been in the spotlight, our work spans many areas of legal aid, from employment and welfare benefits to discrimination, family law, health and social care, and public law. We are only able to provide these services because of the dedication and expertise of our staff and the generosity of our funders. Their support enables us to make a real difference in people's lives every day, helping people understand, exercise and protect their rights."

CELC’s work demonstrates the tangible difference of sustained legal support. In the past year alone, the centre has:

• Helped 400 people challenge unfair treatment at work
• Supported 220 families to remain in their homes
• Secured £6 million in income and compensation for families
• Protected 250 domestic abuse survivors from further harm

Beyond immediate support, CELC has fostered future generations of social welfare lawyers. Many former solicitors have progressed into the judiciary, while partnerships with universities continue to offer volunteering and training opportunities for aspiring practitioners, reinforcing the organisation’s long-term impact on the legal profession.

Elayne continues: "While we celebrate our 50-year legacy and the honour of being named a LALY finalist, the challenges in our communities are growing. Rising living costs, housing pressures, and ongoing legal aid constraints make our work more essential than ever. This recognition is a reminder that the strength of legal aid lies in partnership, commitment, and the enduring belief that justice must be accessible to all. We remain dedicated to supporting our communities, protecting rights, and making legal help a reality for those who need us most."

Chris Minnoch, LAPG CEO, says: "The finalists selected by the LALY judges give a snapshot of the range and calibre of work being done by coalface legal aid lawyers. At a time when the rule of law and access to justice are under threat as never before, their work is more important than ever. The LALY judges had some incredibly tough decisions to make as the standard of entries is extraordinarily high, and everyone at Team LALY sends their warmest congratulations to all the finalists. We are delighted to be able to continue to celebrate the life-changing work that you and legal aid lawyers across the board are doing."

The winners of the 2026 LALY awards will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 3 July, where CELC will be competing alongside Bristol Law Centre and Coram Children’s Legal Centre, both organisations with strong track records of community-focused legal support.