Legal advice and debt management
St James's Church Legal Advice Centre was set up by Peter Thompson in April 1998, at the invitation of the vicar and the Parish Church Council. Peter, who qualified and practised as barrister years ago, offered to organise a free legal advice service, on his retirement from the Government Legal Service. He now holds regular advice sessions between 10 and 12 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with the help and support of a group of volunteers. The Monday and Saturday sessions are in St James's Church and the Wednesdays are at Wilton Community Church.
The Legal Advice Centre makes an annual report to the PCC, listing the number and nature of cases dealt with and written feedback from those who have been seen. The numbers have risen steadily from 90 in the first year to over 400. No charges are made. Donations to the church are accepted gratefully, but not solicited. The Attorney General conferred a Pro Bono Award in 2006.
The Centre operates an Equal Opportunities policy and Peter sums it up as follows:
"We never turn anyone away. If the services needed are outside our competence (for example, conveyancing and court advocacy) we refer on to specialists; but most of the problems are ones which we can and do handle ourselves. Our mission is to lift the burden of legal worry from those who are oppressed by it. We give thanks for the opportunity to help our neighbours."
Contact: 020 8883 0371 or anything.legal@dial.pipex.com or just drop in.
Alongside the legal advice service is a debt counselling service, which is provided by Ajay Gohill. He is a retired business man with years of financial experience in the areas of tax, accountancy, debt recovery and banking. Between them he and Peter have helped many people back on their feet when they have been overwhelmed by creditors' demands. This service invariably changes their lives for the better and is greatly appreciated.