neighbourhood law

One feature which did unite the profession was the need to retain the market for private practitioners and not allow lawyers from neighbourhood law centres to encroach:

After all, we have had for years Poor Man's Lawyer sessions, political legal advice sessions, the legal aid scheme itself, and now, more recently, the neighbourhood law centres.

The Law Centre movement began in the UK in the early 1970s, influenced by the growth of "neighbourhood law offices" in the United States.

(Stevenson 1975) The position is that the members of this association view with deep dismay the continuing spread in area and operations relating to criminal litigation of all London neighbourhood law centres.

Although from the outset they shared some similarities with the already established American and British neighbourhood law offices, in their insistence upon effecting systemic change and their largely voluntary support base they had characteristics distinct from each.

Drawing some inspiration from the American system of neighbourhood law firms but adapting themselves to local conditions and the rules of the legal profession in this country, the law centres now provide a local base for the dissemination of legal services outside the private profession.

I for one, think this is a worthwhile service that private practitioners can give to the community and unless one wishes to see neighbourhood law centres and the like (who I hasten to add do admirable work in particular spheres) take over this type of work and who knows, all criminal work and after that.