Our history

The national Law Centre movement was started in the 1970s by radical lawyers who were disappointed in the failure of the welfare state to eradicate poverty and deliver a more equal society.

Coventry Law Centre was founded in 1976 by four Councillors: Tom McLatchie, Gilbert Richards, Arthur Waugh Senior and Charles Ward. Coventry City Council has been a key supporter of our work ever since.

Central England Law Centre Ltd was formed after Coventry Law Centre opened an office in Birmingham in 2013. Central England Law Centre continues to trade in Coventry as Coventry Law Centre and trades in Birmingham as Birmingham Community Law Centre.

Over the last 40 years, the Law Centre has evolved in response to the changing needs of our clients and changes to the public funding of legal advice but we have never wavered from our focus on improving the lives of our community, here are some examples from then and now:

Latest

Taking bookings NOW for half day courses on Universal Credit in Birmingham.

Taking bookings NOW for half day courses on Universal Credit in Birmingham. Welfare Reform, and in particular Universal Credit, is leading to a reduction in income for people across Birmingham. On our practical courses, led by a Welfare Benefits legal advisor, you will gain top tips and information you can use from day 1 to support your clients to make Universal Credit work for them.
The Great Legal Bake

Get baking for the Great Legal Bake and raise funds for Law Centres. Join with colleagues, family and friends for a fun event to see who is your star baker.
Mother and Child Project

Find out about our work on the legal rights of pregnant women and young mothers who are or have been in the care system. Download free resources and access short tutorials on the legal framework for the support and protection of vulnerable children and care leavers.
Join our Board of Trustees

Do you have the skills to help govern and lead our Law Centre?

Who we help

We provide free legal advice to those most in need and use legal processes to fight social exclusion.
Contact Us
Work for us

Join our team and be part of a cutting edge team using the law to fight social exclusion in society.
Volunteer

The Law Centre is a resource for the whole community and we rely on our amazing team of volunteers help us reach more people with our services.
Our Vision

We want to live in a society where people’s rights are upheld, their needs met and they are enabled to thrive. We are the largest Law Centre in the UK. We provide free specialist legal advice to people across central England.
Child and Family Law

Following the breakdown of a relationship, we provide advice and representation on all aspects of family and childcare law.
Asylum and Immigration Law

Legal advice and representation to people seeking to regularise their immigration status.
Funding

The work we do is only possible because of the support we receive from a wide range of partners and supporters.
Our history

The national Law Centre movement was started in the 1970s by radical lawyers who were disappointed in the failure of the welfare state to eradicate poverty and deliver a more equal society. Coventry Law Centre was founded in 1976 by four Councillors: Tom McLatchie, Gilbert Richards, Arthur Waugh Senior and Charles Ward. Coventry City Council has been a key supporter of our work ever since.
Chief Executive - Sue Bent