For a society where everyone has access to justice.

We increase the support available to vulnerable people requiring access to the legal system through strategic grant making and supporting the advice sector.

For a society where everyone has access to justice.

We increase the support available to vulnerable people requiring access to the legal system through strategic grant making and supporting the advice sector.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak threatens to destroy an already fragile sector. Many specialist advice agencies will close over the next 2 – 12 months unless the wider legal community steps in to help now! Please give generously.

Covid-19 | London Funders

Funder Statement on Covid 19, March 2020

We, along with a wider group of funders, recognise that the covid-19 outbreak is an exceptional event that will have an impact on civil society groups, and want to offer reassurance that we stand with the sector during this time. We wish to be as helpful as possible during the coming weeks and month so that civil society groups can focus on the vital work of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We understand that there will be times when staff and volunteers will not be available, when beneficiaries may need services to be provided in different ways, or when systems need to be flexible to ensure that needs are met.

If your community services or organisation are affected by the covid-19 outbreak, and you receive grant* funding from us, we are committed to:

Adapting Activities - we recognise that you may experience difficulties achieving some of the outputs or outcomes we agreed for your grant during the outbreak, and would like to be able to maintain our grant payments to you at originally-agreed levels during this period, so please have a conversation with us if you are affected in this way;
Discussing dates - we don't want to add pressure, so if you think you will struggle to meet a reporting deadline please get in touch with us so that we can agree a more realistic time for you to get things to us wherever possible;
Financial flexibility - we know you may need to use your funding to help cover sickness, purchase equipment, or deliver services differently, and we will be reasonable if you need to move money between budget headings to ensure your work can continue; and
Listening to you - we are here if you want to talk to us about the situation you're facing, but we'll wait for you to call us so that these conversations are at the right time for you.

We also recognise that there may be further shocks to the system caused by covid-19 that may impact on your other income streams, or require a more urgent response from funders. Where we have any news on emergency funding we commit to publishing this on the London Funders web page so you can see all available programmes in one place.

This statement is being coordinated by London Funders, but is not only for their members or funders in London.

This commitment applies to all of our grantees, wherever you are based across the UK.

*This does not apply to commissioned services or contracts where there will be separate discussions between commissioners and provider organisations.

How much does a legal advice clinic cost to run?

£ 0

Funding a court advice desk

£ 0

Setting up a pro bono clinic

£ 0

One case receiving legal representation

We are solely focused on funding and supporting access to justice.

We believe everyone should have access to justice, yet two thirds of the UK population don’t know how to get legal advice and there are still 14 million people who live in poverty and can’t afford it. A lack of access to justice leads to issues of poverty, homelessness, ill health, unemployment, broken households, and many other social and personal difficulties.

We give professionals the tools to increase access to justice

Pro bono costs provide vital funding for free legal help. Before 2008, legal costs could not be awarded in cases where the winning party was represented for free. Section 194 of the Legal Services Act 2008 changed this.

Play

Events

Our events raise important funds that support legal advice agencies across the UK.

Legal Walks
Bakes & Quizzes
Upcoming Events

Legal
Walks

If you would like to get involved in taking part or helping to organise an event in your area please contact events@atjf.org.uk.

Whether walking, running, cycling or baking (or perhaps just eating?) cakes is your thing we have an event for everyone.

We want our supporters to have fun whilst raising much needed funds for free legal advice agencies and it is a great way of meeting new contacts too!

Bakes &
Quizzes

If you would like to get involved in taking part or helping to organise an event in your area please contact events@atjf.org.uk.

Show off your baking skills along with your staff, clients, students, friends or family. Flavoursome fundraising ideas include bake sales and competitions.

Give your brain a stretch and take part in this nationwide quiz as part of National Pro Bono Week. We supply the questions (not law specific) and you organise the quiz in your local pub, office or just at home!

Thank you to everyone who took part in 2019 for helping us raise over £36,500 nationally!

We hope to raise even more in 2020!

Funds raised will go to support local advice agencies and charities through the UK.

Remember, if you are…

a legal advice agency you can raise the funds for your agency by signing up and telling us how much you raise.
a law firm or chambers you can raise 50% for your favourite legal advice charity and 50% for the ATJF by telling us which partner agency you want to raise for.

We hope most law firms, advocates and chambers will allow 100% to go to their local Legal Support Trust or the Access to Justice Foundation as those funds are strategically targeted at agencies most in need (and there are a lot of those!)

Our Bakers
National Pro Bono Centre

News

Tweets by Access2JusticeF

The Access to Justice Foundation appoints new Chair of Trustees

June 3, 2020

The Access to Justice Foundation has announced the appointment of Laurence Harris as Chairman of its Board of Trustees. He will take over from out-going

Emergency Advice Appeal hits fundraising target

June 3, 2020

The Emergency Advice Appeal, a joint initiative by the Access to Justice Foundation and the London Legal Support Trust, to help the legal advice sector

Head of LIPSS Partnership

May 15, 2020

New Vacancy! We are currently seeking a highly motivated Head of LIPSS Partnership to lead the Litigant in Person Support Strategy (LIPSS) Partnership. LIPSS is

Community Justice Fund Launches

May 12, 2020

Community Justice Fund launches to sustain UK social justice advisers through Covid-19 pandemic – www.communityjusticefund.org.uk New fund aims to inject immediate money

Help

About us

The Access to Justice Foundation, PO Box 64162, London WC2A 9AN. enquiries@atjf.org.uk

The Access to Justice Foundation is a company limited by guarantee (No. 6714178) and a Registered Charity in England and Wales (No. 1126147) and Scotland (no.(No. SC048584). Registered office: The National Pro Bono Centre, 48 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1JF.

For a society where everyone has access to justice.

We increase the support available to vulnerable people requiring access to the legal system through strategic grant making and supporting the advice sector.

For a society where everyone has access to justice.

We increase the support available to vulnerable people requiring access to the legal system through strategic grant making and supporting the advice sector.

Covid-19 | London Funders

Funder Statement on Covid 19, March 2020

If your community services or organisation are affected by the covid-19 outbreak, and you receive grant* funding from us, we are committed to:

How much does a legal advice clinic cost to run?

We are solely focused on funding and supporting access to justice.

We give professionals the tools to increase access to justice