About Us
- Latest Annual Report
- Our Services
- Our History
- Our Funders
- Staff and Board of Directors
- Professional Bodies
- Thanks
Our Services
We offer free, confidential and independent legal advice to people in Norfolk who might not otherwise be able to access legal assistance. To find out more about what services we offer and how to access them please use the links on the left.
The quality of our work is very important to us. We have a Legal Services Commission Quality Mark, extending to casework standard in both housing and debt. We welcome client feedback and continually try to improve the delivery of our services. If you have any comments or would like to make a complaint about the service you have received from us please contact us.
Our History
We were founded in 1985 as the Norwich and District Legal Services Committee, with the aim of meeting the legal needs of people in Norfolk. A committee of unpaid volunteers worked towards meeting the gaps in legal service provision.
In March 2005 we changed our name to Norfolk Community Law Service to reflect our commitment to the whole of Norfolk.
We now employ ten members of staff and have over 30 volunteers working in different capacities.
Our Funders
NCLS is a registered charity (Company Registration No 3524607 Charity No 1069066).
We are funded by public grants and private donations. Our funding bodies include:
- Norwich City Council
- Broadland District Council
- South Norfolk District Council
- Anglian Water Assistance Fund
- Norwich Consolidated Charities
- Big Lottery Fund
- Department for Communities & Local Government
- Department of Business, Innovation and Skills
- Garden Court Chambers
- Transport & General Workers Union
We are also supported by local law firms whose lawyers donate their time to our Legal Advice Rota:
- Allan Rutherford Solicitors
- Birketts
- Clapham & Collinge
- Cozens-Hardy & Jewson
- Family Law Consultancy
- Fosters
- Glynne’s
- Gordon Dean
- Greenland Houchen
- Howard Pollok & Webb
- Linked Law
- Overburys
- Story & Robison
- T J Shepperson
- Working Law Solicitors
- BBL Family Law
Our Staff and Board of Directors
The Directors of NCLS Ltd are:
- Ben Keane - Chair
- John Ceybird - Treasurer
- Gordon Dean - Solicitor
- Liz Edwards - Hon Secretary
- Richard Goodall - Vice Chair & Company Secretary
- Vanessa Morton - Housing and Local Government
- Mike Pendred — Trades Unionist
- Gerardo Rodriguez - Human Rights and Social Work
- Margaret Sparrow - Solicitor
- Andrew Spencer - Solicitor
- Steve Stavridis - Retired Personnel Manager
Staff:
- Ros Brown - General Manager
- Judi Lincoln - Housing and Volunteer Manager
- Andy Cobb - Money Adviser
- Adam Clark - NCAN Project Coordinator
- Julie Bennett — Administration Officer
- Rebecca Branson — Administration Officer
- Hana Suzuki - Administration Officer
- Joanne Freeman - Administration Officer
- Susan Craddock - Debt Caseworker Assistant
- Ellie McKinlay-Khojinian - NCAN Project Assistant
Volunteers:
We are grateful to our many volunteers who generously donate their time,
without whom we would not be able to function effectively.
For information on how to volunteer, click here.
Professional Bodies
NCLS is a member of the following organisations:
Thanks
We would like to thank:
- Overburys Solicitors - for use of their Board Room
- Phil Wells, Michael Wiltshire and other colleagues at Age UK Norwich for their ongoing support and friendship.
