On Monday the 11th of June, our annual legal walk took place in the city of Derby; a 10km sponsored walk along the banks of the river Derwent and past many of the city sights and attractions including the historic Derby Gaol!

Birmingham has historically been one of our larger Legal Walks, and 2018 did not disappoint, with 47 teams and just under 500 walkers taking part! Well done to you all and a big thank you for the incredible show of support from our largest teams: Anthony Collins Solicitors (with 38 walkers!), Gowling WLG and Irwin Mitchell (both with 34 team members), and the team from Gateley (with 33!).

Team size aside, we appreciate each and every individual who spent time, energy and funds in order to support our fundraising efforts. As a result of all of your support, our current fundraising total stands just under a grand £18,000!! This is monumental, and with donations still coming in, we hope to raise a significant sum, in order to aid the local legal advice agencies in the Birmingham area.

Don’t worry, if you missed the Birmingham walk, but want to do your bit to increase access to justice in the Midlands, head over to the MLST website, to find out when our next fundraising events are and how YOU can get involved! We look forward to seeing you there! 

There are worse ways to go about raising awareness and access to justice, than to stroll around the charming city of Leicester sights. That’s exactly what 11 wonderful teams, compromising of 56 enthusiastic walkers, got up to on the afternoon of Monday 4th of June.

Congratulations to the largest team to take part in the 2018 walk: The University of Leicester Pro Bono Group, with 19 members walking to fund-raise for the local legal advice services in the Midlands. Thank you!

Additional thanks go to this year’s event sponsors: The 36 Group, the University of Leicester, and Leicester De Montfort Law School. We would also like to express our appreciation for the supporters of this year’s walk: Junior Lawyers Leicestershire and the Leicestershire Law Society.

Notably, the student presence on this walk was particularly encouraging. It is always a joy to witness the fun, enthusiastic commitment of student walkers to the causes of justice and equality which are at the heart of the MLST’s agenda.

Pro-bono legal advice services are fundamental to the solving of problems such as homelessness and destitution. Thank you to all the lovely people who took part in the walk, thus contributing to the solution of such problems in Leicester and the surrounding local area.

Check out photos from the event below! 

On April the 30th, this year's Northampton Legal Walk took place. Sponsored by Hewitsons and faithfully supported by the Northamptonshire Law Society, the 2018 Legal Walk was- despite the cloudy and cold weather- a fundraising success!

As just one of our many legal walks to occur throughout the year across the nation, the Northampton walk, to date, has raised just under £2,500! This is just shy of the amount we have previously raised, so please- donate now at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/northamptonlegalwalk/455643 and help us beat last year’s record! We would very much appreciate your support! On behalf of those whose lives you will touch in the most positive way, by enabling them to access the legal support and security they desperately need, the Midlands Legal Support Trust would like to express our heartfelt thanks! 

Back in May, Nottingham hosted its annual Legal Walk and we couldn’t be prouder of the efforts of all involved. Donations from this event are still pouring in, but our most up-to-date total is just over a whopping £7,500! The MLST would love to take this opportunity to thank every walker, team organiser, and sponsor for the role they have played in making this year’s walk such a resounding success!

Special mentions go to our senior walkers: Nick Ebb- High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Colonel David R Sneath, Laura Pinkney- President of Nottingham Law Society, The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, and His Honour Judge Gregory Dickinson QC- thank you for taking time out of your day to be our Lead Walkers! Additionally, we want to say a big thank you to our loyal supporters over at the Nottingham Law School Legal Advice Centre!
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If you’re feeling motivated to help fundraise for increased access to justice through free legal support services in the Midlands, why not check out our upcoming events? see how you can get involved here! 

Lovely to see so many members of Leicester's legal community joining us on our Legal Walk. The walkers were joined by judges, Ebraham Mooncey, Alison Hampton, and Jane George, as well as district judge, Geoffrey Reed, and recently retired circuit judge, Simon Hammond. Together, they aptly named their team,  "The Judgernauts!"

Check out the link below for the whole article!
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/judges-support-free-legal-advice-172805

Thank you again Leicester! 

It has been an eventful couple of weeks here at the Midland Legal Support Trust, especially now that Legal Walk season is in full swing!! We’ve had great fun traveling across the Midlands and meeting all the fabulous walkers who are fundraising for a great cause. So far we have had an excellent turn out at the events in Northampton, Birmingham and most recently Nottingham. All together over 553 people have come out after work to walk 10k in their city, rain or shine, to help raise funds for legal advice centers. Amazing stuff!

We want to say a huge Thank you to all of you who have got involved so far. And not forgetting our brilliant sponsors and lead walkers all of whom have simply been incredible in helping make these events a success!

Our next stop for the MLST will be Leicester on the 19th June. We are thrilled to be visiting Leicester and look forward to meeting more walkers and raising funds which will be used to help individuals who would otherwise be unable to access vital legal advice.

12 May 2017
 
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For Immediate Release
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Northampton Legal Walk
3rd sponsored Northampton Legal Walk raises over £2,500 for free local legal help
 
On Monday 24 May, just under 90 lawyers, advisors and other legal professionals joined forces for a sponsored walk along the River Nene to raise over £2,500 to support free legal advice in Northampton and throughout the Midlands.
 
Under the banner ‘Supporting access to justice in the Midlands’ 11 teams of walkers from law firms, barristers' chambers as well as the voluntary and advice sector came together to raise funds for the Midland Legal Support Trust (MLST) and other local free legal advice charities. Walkers were joined by Rupert Fordham, High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Clare Colacicchi, Senior Partner - Hewitsons​, Ika Castka, President of Northamptonshire Law Society, His Honour Judge Mayo, His Honour Judge Handley, District Judge Lynch, His Honour Judge Fowler, His Honour Judge Timothy Smith, and His Honour Mr Justice Keehan.
The 10km route meandered along the river and through the town’s sights, giving many walkers the chance to see a new side of the town. The weather was fine and breezy; a perfect spring day to stride out and raise money for a vital cause.
 
Walkers taking part fundraised for the cause by seeking sponsorship. The event was also supported by Hewitsons who sponsored the finishing line reception at their office in Billing Road, which was gratefully received by thirsty walkers.
 
Alongside some well-deserved refreshments walkers were welcomed back by the lead walkers who spoke about the growing importance of continuing free legal advice and support for the sector and the vulnerable individuals who rely on such services.
 
The event is run by the Midland Legal Support Trust (MLST). The MLST was formed in 2010 to raise and distribute funds to support the provision of free legal advice in Northampton and throughout the Midlands to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. It is part of a network of Legal Support Trusts, working with the Access to Justice Foundation, to facilitate the access to specialist legal advice for the poorest and most vulnerable people in the community.
 
The organisations supported by the event make a huge difference in the lives of many people. The recent cuts to civil legal aid have not only affected the legal profession, but have also drastically impacted the services provided to members of the public.
 
Cuts to legal aid and local government funding of advice services means charities such as these are fighting to survive. Some organisations have merged, meaning already tight resources are being stretched over greater distances. Other organisations have ceased to provide services altogether.
 
A representative from the MLST said “The Northampton Legal Walk is a fantastic and fun way to raise awareness and funds for free legal advice charities in our region. Cuts to legal aid affect the poorest hardest and we strongly believe that everyone should have access to legal advice when they need it.
“We are thrilled that so many people took part in the walk and supported this important cause.“
 
More information about the MLST and Northampton Legal Walk, including all the pictures from the event can be found on the MLST website at http://mlst.weebly.com/northampton-legal-walk.htmlnorwich-legal-walk.
You can find the event on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/ELSTFB) or by using the hashtag #legalwalk, you can also follow the Trust on Twitter @MidlandLST.
 
ENDS
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• The Midland Legal Support Trust (the Trust) is part of a nationwide group of 8 other Regional Legal Support Trusts set up under the guidance of the Access to Justice Foundation across England and Wales to support the provision of pro bono legal advice through grants, fund raising and other help.
• The Northampton Legal Walk is a sponsored event which engages the local legal profession, advice sector and public in promoting access to justice. More information can be found at http://mlst.weebly.com/northampton-legal-walk.html
• For more information about the Access to Justice Foundation see its website at http://www.atjf.org.uk/ or contact Laura Cassidy by email lauracassidy@atjf.org.uk or phone 020 7092 3973.
• For more information about the Midland Legal Support Trust see its website at http://mlst.weebly.com/northampton-legal-walk.html or contact the Trust by email enquiries@mlst.org.uk. 

Exciting news here at the Midland Legal Support Trust! We are holding our next Legal Walk in Birmingham on Monday 8th May and with just over 5 weeks to go before the big day there is still plenty of time to come together with your colleagues or friends and get involved for a great cause.

Starting at 5.30pm from No 5 Chambers on Steelhouse Lane, the 10k route can be walked at your own pace! Upon completion of the route there will be the opportunity to all come together and have some well-deserved refreshments. Additionally, we are holding a photography challenge during the walk so please remember to take some photographs and share them with us afterwards @MidlandLST using #legalwalk.
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We are fundraising because a reduction in Government and Local Authority spending has impacted the most vulnerable people in our communities, preventing access to legal advice for those who desperately need it.  Our fundraising events such as the Southampton Legal Walk and the recent Great Legal Bake, are of vital importance to support continued provision of services and overcome the damaging impacts of funding cuts. Help us help those who need legal advice, walk with us in Birmingham on Monday 8th May!

Talking of baking, our recent Legal Bake fundraiser held during February was a great success! Raising an incredible £33,000 across all Support Trusts in the UK. The money raised in each area will be used to keep legal advice free and available to all.

We are always looking for more teams to get involved, and now that the days are getting longer and (hopefully) warmer there should be no excuse! So if you enjoy walking and supporting great causes this is for you.  If you haven’t signed up yet, not to worry, follow the link below and enter a team today! Together we can help support local legal advice agencies. http://mlst.weebly.com/birmingham-legal-walk.html

http://www.bpcentre.org.uk/

​Thank you Midland Legal Support Trust!A big thank you to the MLST and to everyone who raised funds to support organisations like Birmingham Peoples Centre. Without your support we would struggle to meet the costs involved in providing our services. The grant we recently received will enable us to continue to assist those who have nowhere else to turn and make employment rights meaningful.