MAP Community Legal Service

WORKSHEET S7: The Community Legal Service

Sub-section 1: Strategic Framework for Community Legal Services

Q 1. What are the particular demographics and the needs of different communities of your town and its hinterland that the CLSP Strategic Plan takes into consideration?

Look at groups such as: young people, older people, ethnic minorities, disabled, etc.

Relatively well off area, older age group in West Malling and Downs. Q 2. How does the CLSP Strategic Plan take into consideration travel access issues for people?

Access to the town is fairly easy by public transport, but the villages have a high proportion of car ownership so people can travel by car. Q 3. What are the priorities in the CLSP Strategic Plan for improving access to legal services?

There are no local access problems

Sub-section 2: Ease of Obtaining Legal Help

Q 4. How many solicitors are there in your town, and how many of them have contracts with the Legal Services Commission?

(Worksheets EC4 Q2,3; EC5; T2 Q12; T3 q!6 also refer to retail and service sector)

2 solicitors.

Q 5. Civil legal services: a.Which ‘Not for Profit’ organisations provide civil legal services in your town and how many have contracts with the Legal Services Commission? b.Are the opening times of these services adequate for the needs of your communities?

Examples of organisations that might be providing civil legal services are the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and Shelter.

Age Concern West Malling, Citizens Advice Bureau West Malling – by appointment Q 6. Does the local council(s) have offices where people can access services in the town?

(Worksheets EC2 Q18; T2 Q11,12; T3 Q16 also refer to local government services) Borough Council offices at Kings Hill

Q 7. Where are the Community Legal Service Information Points?

These may be in the library or other easy access building. They should clearly display the Community Legal Service Quality Mark.

(Worksheets EC4 Q2,3; EC5; T2 Q12; T3 Q16 also refer to retail and service sector)

Age Concern West Malling, Citizens Advice Bureau West Malling, Borough Council offices at Kings Hill. Q 8. Which outlets in the town carry a full range of the Community Legal Service Information Leaflets on aspects of civil law?

All above Q 9. How are the following national services advertised locally? Community Legal Service Direct National Helpline (0845 345 4345)? Community Legal Service Direct website (www.clsdirect.org.uk)?

At outlets above, library

Q10. Where can people go to get access to the Community Legal Service Direct National Helpline and Community Legal Service Direct website?

Is there, for example, a library (or other building that is easily accessible to the community) that provides public access to such facilities as a public telephone point, internet point, or kiosk? Library has public internet access.