COMMUNITY PROJECTS: LawWorks saved by new funds, but amount has not been confirmed

A lifeline has been thrown to the LawWorks pro bono project after fears that a funding crisis might force it to close.

Funding had been arranged until June 2004.

But, earlier this month it emerged that future Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) cash for the scheme had appeared to have been lost in the system.

At the time, the department said there was a 'lack of clarity' in its settlement with the Treasury, which was being treated as a matter of urgency (Gazette [2003] 4 September).

But this week the DCA has confirmed that funding for LawWorks will be granted.

However, the department has not confirmed the exact amount.

'Our one concern was one of funding and fortunately that has now been solved,' said Sue Bucknall, the Solicitors' Pro Bono Group (SPBG) chief executive.

'We have now got sufficient funding to carry on for the next year or so - our concern now is getting more lawyers signed up and more community groups involved.'

But the DCA said the amount of funding the scheme will receive had not yet been decided.

'We can confirm that our officials are meeting with LawWorks within the next three weeks to discuss funding beyond June 2004,' a spokeswoman said.

'They will also discuss the targets that LawWorks proposes to offer.'

The LawWorks scheme offers advice clinics, an initial e-mail advice service and in-depth electronic assistance.

It has been funded largely through the 680,000 start up grant that it was allocated in 2001.

Since then it has helped 203 community groups, saving the not-for-profit sector some 1.2 million in legal fees, according to its annual report, which was published this week.

Some 250 lawyers have volunteered.

Corporate advice made up the lion's share of the scheme's work at just less than 40%.

Other popular enquiries included property law at 22%, charity made up 18% and employment law advice made up 12% of the volunteers' work.

Half of the enquiries came from community groups in the London area.

Ms Bucknall said more and more in-house and transaction lawyers were getting involved.

And many are requesting more instructions after filling their allocation.

In-house lawyers at Vodafone, BAe Systems, Lloyds', and the Royal Mail have volunteered their services.

The SPBG has worked with the Law Centres Federation and National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux on the project.

Now in its second year, LawWorks has been rolled out to the different government regions in England and Wales.

Organisations apply to their local Citizens' Advice Bureaux.

These pass the enquiries to LawWorks, which then matches each one with a lawyer.

Community groups for which LawWorks has undertaken work in the past year include the Sutton Carers Centre, the counsellors referral charity Counselling and the Guiting Festival in the Cotswolds.

'It's been hard work but it's been very rewarding,' Ms Bucknall added.

Chris Baker