Gear up for the Scottish Legal Walks

Access to Justice Foundation Scotland is pleased to confirm that the Scottish Legal Walks, in aid of free local legal advice charities, are back this autumn.

The Glasgow Legal Walk is on Tuesday 27 September, with the closing reception at the Royal Faculty of Procurators. The Edinburgh Legal Walk is on Wednesday 5 October, with the closing reception in the Upper Signet Library. The Foundation is keen to encourage judges, advocates, solicitors, paralegals, trainees and law students, and their colleagues, friends, and family (and dogs) to walk with us at one of these events. They are great fun, offer super networking opportunities, and support very worthwhile causes, so why not organise and register a team, or sponsor some local walkers?

Funds raised in Scotland

Around £42,500 has been raised to date in Scotland by the Foundation through event fundraising, all distributed to Scottish advice charities, so what is raised in Scotland stays in Scotland.

The impact of COVID-19 on social welfare advice organisations led to a group of independent funders partnering with representative bodies to form an alliance for social justice, the Community Justice Fund (“CJF”). The Foundation, as one of the funders, was tasked with hosting and distributing this vital funding, which provided substantial sums in two waves to several Scottish charities affected by the pandemic.

To date the Foundation has distributed a total of £772,193 to legal advice charities including JustRight Scotland, Ethnic Minorities Law Centre, Clan Childlaw, Castlemilk Law & Money Advice Centre, Legal Services Agency, Shelter Scotland, Govan Law Centre, and Govan Community Project. More information on the CJF is at atjf.org.uk/communityjusticefund

The work carried out and the continued support shown by the UK Law Societies has been welcomed by the Access to Justice Foundation Scotland, and by its UK parent.

The Foundation

Access to Justice Foundation Scotland is registered as a charity in Scotland. Its committee has been appointed from a broad section of Scottish organisations and interests, all committed to ensuring access to justice for all. The Foundation is seeking designation as a Scottish prescribed charity eligible for pro bono costs orders in terms of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018. Although no charity has yet been designated by the Lord President for this purpose, the Foundation is a strong candidate and hopes to achieve designated status in due course.

Other Foundation events

Foundation events raise funds that support legal advice charities. If you are unable to join or support a Scottish Legal Walk, please consider one of the other events this year, including Go the Extra Mile for Justice, the Great Legal Bake, and the Great Legal Quiz: see atjf.org.uk/events 

Pro Bono Week 2022

The 21st annual pro bono week will take place from 7 to 11 November. This event will offer an opportunity to recognise and support the voluntary contribution made by the legal profession across the UK in giving free legal help to those in need: probonoweek.org.uk

Recruitment and review

The Foundation is looking for more committee and working group members to support its work in Scotland. The central belt has the Glasgow and Edinburgh Legal Walks, but what about the rest of Scotland? Is there any local appetite to extend the Scottish Legal Walks further north in future?

Email me if you are interested in joining our committee or working group, would like more details of what would be involved in setting up a new Scottish Legal Walk, or are interested in helping with the existing walks. If you would like to sponsor an event, or donate to the Foundation, please contact enquiries@atjf.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter (@ScotlandLegal), Instagram, and LinkedIn. Graeme McWilliams is a Fellow of the Law Society of Scotland, retired in-house lawyer, and committee member of the Access to Justice Foundation Scotland and chair of its working group. e: gmmcw@aol.com