A coalition of London-based legal aid firms and not-for-profit agencies is set to pre-empt the Legal Services Commission (LSC) with the imminent launch of its own network for providing co-ordinated community legal advice.


Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, of Scott-Moncrieff Harbour & Sinclair, one of the firms behind the initiative, said its model is in keeping with the Law Society's vision of linked-up providers helping address the gap between legal aid demand and supply.



She added that membership is not prescriptive. Firms and organisations join the network by invitation from existing members, their suitability based on a reputation for good work rather than their size or LSC status. Members are linked through a Web site, which is accessible to the public.



Ms Scott-Moncrieff, Law Society Council member for west London, explained that the network's evolution was not 'big bang', but grew organically from wanting to give a comprehensive service to existing clients.



She said: 'The principle is simple. For instance, when clients present with a mental health problem, we undertake to check whether there are also debt, housing, employment, welfare or other problems, too. Clients are never left hanging. If we identify further problems, we guarantee that they'll be dealt with by the appropriate members of the network.'



A spokesman for the LSC was unable to comment in detail on the coalition's plans, but acknowledged that they broadly mirrored the key principle of delivering a more co-ordinated social welfare law service that underpins its proposed community legal advice networks (CLANs).



Along with community legal advice centres, which will be located in deprived communities with higher-density populations, CLANs form a key plank in the commission's strategy for the Community Legal Service (CLS).



The commission has so far announced prospective centres for Gateshead, Leicester and Derby, but has not revealed where the first CLAN will be based.



The LSC spokesman said: 'CLANs will deliver a wider range of services, from basic advice to specialist representation for complex legal cases. When a client walks in one door, they will access the full range of social welfare services of the whole network.



'After gathering the views of firms and agencies in our CLS strategy consultation earlier this year, we are now at the stage of discussing the development of the first networks with a number of local authorities.'



Jonathan Rayner