Six more law centres are on the critical list and will struggle to survive 2009 as they try to plug funding gaps, according to the Law Centres Federation.

Six law centres closed in 2008, leaving 54 centres to cover England and Wales. A similar number could go this year, said federation director Julie Bishop.

Centres offer access to the legal system, employing solicitors, barristers, legal advisers and community workers. They are funded by the Legal Services Commission and councils.

Bishop said services are struggling with cashflow following changes to funding made in October 2007. Centres no longer get advance payments but have to wait until a case is complete, which can take months or even years, Bishop said. ‘An organisation that has a lot of money in the bank can carry this but a non-profit organisation does not have large reserves.’

Among centres on the critical list is Saltley and Nechells Law Centre in Birmingham.Last month, Lord Bach, the legal aid minister, launched a study into local legal advice funding and provision. Bishop said: ‘We are hopeful the outcome [of the study] will help reduce the financial stress. But if there are no changes to the system we expect to see closures.’