Reading lawyers to participate in 10K to promote access to justice

The 10K sponsored walk is organised by the London Legal Support Trust (LLST) and all funds raised support local free legal advice agencies such as Age UK Reading, Citizens Advice Reading and Reading Refugee Support Group.

The walk on September 16 is expected to raise over £8000 to promote access to justice for the most vulnerable.

The annual walk is led by local judges including District Judge Catherine Comiskey, and District Judge Sophie Harrison.

They will be joined by lawyers and colleagues from local law firms including Barrett & Co Solicitors, Blandy & Blandy LLP, Clifton Ingram LLP, Field Seymour Parkes LLP and Parfitt Cresswell, who have already signed up along with Barristers, support staff, law students and staff.

The walk is sponsored by Beaufort Financial, with all walkers receiving a drink at the end.

Bob Nightingale MBE, founder of LLST, commended the lawyers for supporting local advice agencies.

He said: "In recent years life has become even harder for the most disadvantaged people.

“Austerity has caused hardship among the poorest people and created problems such as debt and homelessness.

“Often the advice agencies are the only place where those people can get help.

"2013 cuts to legal aid for many areas of welfare law mean that people who can't afford to pay a solicitor can no longer turn to high street solicitors for help with matters such as benefits, employment or disrepair.

“Now changes to the benefits rules for people with disabilities is creating even more pressure on the advice agencies.

“It's fantastic that local lawyers will turn out year after year to raise funds to help to ease that problem."

The walk starts at 5:30pm from The Walkabout pub, RG1 1DG (registration from 5pm).