Newham Community Legal Service

We are a group of Newham residents and people with a strong local connection to the Borough who are aiming to ensure that people in Newham who can’t afford to pay for legal advice can access specialist help and representation in areas such as housing and homelessness, and problems with immigration status.

In 2024 a legal advice needs assessment From Disparity to Fairness: Legal Access in Newham was carried out on behalf of the steering group by Fieldfisher LLP and The Public Law Project. 

Surveys were sent to local organisations, and interviews conducted with Stephen Timms MP constituency caseworkers. The report evidenced that whilst there are a number of excellent local not for profit advice providers in Newham, they are already severely overstretched and caseworkers found it difficult to make referrals for more specialist advice and representation.

Our overall aim is for a fairer Newham where disadvantaged people experiencing poverty, breaches of their human rights or discrimination can access justice, leading to improvements in health and well- being.

In addition to the one to one legal casework we will provide “Know Your Rights” sessions covering areas such as dealing with housing disrepair, understanding changes in immigration legislation, and dealing with rent arrears. These sessions will be aimed at empowering local residents and the frontline workers who support them.

We are currently in the process of becoming a constituted charity, and plan to launch the legal service in 2026. By the end of 2026 we will transition to becoming a Community Law Centre. We plan to rent office space in the premises of Community Links.

Our service will be embedded in the Newham community and have effective partnerships with the other advice providers and community groups.. 

We will apply for legal aid contracts, and other grants, but need funding to kickstart the foundation of the legal service, so we can employ immigration and housing solicitors and cover our running costs.