Law centres are dealing with dozens of enquiries a day from people worried about the consequences of the Brexit vote, according to the sector's umbrella organisation. 

The Law Centres Network said that outlets across the country have seen a marked increase in enquiries from people concerned about the implications on them and their families.

Some centres have reported 15 related enquiries a day, with the London boroughs of Brent and Harrow, as well as central London, all reporting busy days since the referendum.

Nimrod Ben-Cnaan (pictured), head of policy and profile, said that even before last Thursday’s vote centres had been dealing with people trying to find out how they would be affected.

New enquiries have included people worried about getting a permanent residence card or citizenship, or about their status if they have been out of work due to illness, injury or disability.

Others have enquired about acquiring another EU nationality, or have EU benefits or pensions they are worried about.

Ben-Cnaan said: ‘We have seen a rise in enquiries from people who were worried that the result meant that they had to leave the UK immediately. To be clear, for now the rights of EU citizens in the UK remain unchanged. Any future changes will be announced in advance, giving time to prepare.'

Meanwhile, more than 50 UK solicitors have enquired to the Law Society of Ireland about being admitted in that jurisdiction following the vote.

Last week the Law Society of Ireland revealed that so far this year 186 solicitors from the UK had been admitted to practise in the republic – more than three times the total at this stage last year.

It is understood leaders of the law societies from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales met in Dublin last week, with the topic of Brexit discussed.

Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society of Ireland, said: ‘It was agreed by all that the four law societies would work to maintain unaffected, to the maximum extent possible, their warm friendships and mutually beneficial co-operation, including ease of inter-jurisdictional transfers of solicitors, if the UK were to vote to leave the EU.’