Regulation

Legal Status

Central England Law Centre is a registered charity, registered with the Charity Commission No 1087312 and a company limited by guarantee, registered with Companies House No 4149673.

Central England Law Centre operates from two main offices, one in Coventry, known as Coventry Law Centre and one in Birmingham, known as Birmingham Community Law Centre. We employ solicitors and caseworkers who provide legal advice and representation on social welfare law. Law Centres are able to employ solicitors to carry out reserved legal activities as ‘Special Bodies’ under the Legal Services Act 2007. This is a unique category of agencies who, broadly, are able to deliver free services and have a solicitors practice.

Governance

The directors of the company are also known as trustees for the purposes of charity law. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Charity. Central England Law Centre has a Board of trustees who meet regularly and has fiduciary responsibility for the governance of the Law Centre; plan the strategic direction, and shape its broad policies. The Trustees are also required to ensure that the Law Centre’s accounts are independently audited and filed with the Charities Commission and Companies House by the end of each financial year. The Company Secretary and Chief Executive attend all meetings of the Board but are not a member of it.

Organisational structure

Responsibility for the provision of services and for the delivery of the business plan is delegated to the Chief Executive. The Law Centre’s operations are guided by policies approved by the trustees to provide a framework for the day to day running of all aspects of the organisation.

We are an active member of the Law Centres Network the national voice of Law Centres and their clients, representing them at all levels of government and in various national forums.

Regulation

The solicitors employed within the Law Centre are required to comply with their regulatory obligations and in particular the Solicitors Code of Conduct; Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Practice Framework rules 2011 and SRA Handbook. All Law Centres are also required to employ a solicitor who is qualified to supervise under the SRA Practice Framework Rules 2011. In the case of Central England Law Centre the Head of Legal Practice is employed to fulfil this role.

Our Immigration work is also regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner and we are registered with them to provide immigration advice. We hold the Specialist Quality Mark for our legal aid work and we also employ accredited Family Law Advance Panel members.

Our debt advice is regulated is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our debt advisor is a member of the Institute of Money Advice and the Money Advice Trust.

Latest

Benefits for EEA Nationals - Birmingham - both dates must be attended

Note this comprises 2 half days - Friday 12th July, 9.30am to 1pm and Wednesday 17th July 2019, 1.30pm to 5pm. This course looks at the rules regarding benefits for EEA nationals – we will consider residence rules, including the Habitual Residence Test and Right to Reside Rules. We will also consider derivative rights and family membership and offer practical tips on making a successful benefit claim. Only £90.00 plus VAT per person for both sessions.
Challenging Decisions - Birmingham

Led by a welfare benefits legal advisor, this course will examine the way that welfare benefit decisions may be challenged. We will consider the process of challenging a benefit decision, considering a Mandatory Reconsideration initially and also how to lodge and prepare for an appeal at the First Tier Tribunal. Only £45.00 plus VAT per person
ESA and Work Capability Assessments - Coventry

Led by a Welfare Benefits Legal Advisor, this course will provide an introduction to ESA including New Style ESA. The course will also look in details at the work capability assessment process used in both ESA and UC. We will look at the points system and tactics to maximise the chances of a successful outcome to an ESA assessment. Only £45+vat per person.
Maximising Income for people on Universal Credit Training - Coventry

Led by a Welfare Benefits legal advisor, this course will look at how people on Universal Credit can maximise their income. We will examine key routes for doing this and when you can challenge decisions to achieve this. You will obtain top tips and information you can use from day 1 to support your clients to make Universal Credit work for them. Only £45+vat per person.

Contact Us
Who we help

We provide free legal advice to those most in need and use legal processes to fight social exclusion.
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.
Asylum and Immigration Law

Legal advice and representation to people seeking to regularise their immigration status.
Child and Family Law

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