Lawyers and their colleagues from across Oxford are getting together to raise money for free specialist legal advice agencies in Oxford. This year, the Oxford Legal Walk, takes place on Monday 16th May, led by Judge Joanna Vincent, and the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Mark Beard. The 10K walk will welcome fundraisers from all across the legal profession and anyone else who supports giving access to justice for all, hoping to beat last year’s total of £15,000.
What does the walk include?
Walkers will be welcomed at Oxford Combined Court from 5.00pm with walkers heading off at 5.30pm. From there, fundraisers will take part in the 10k walk, which takes in lots of Oxford’s most iconic landmarks finishing with a reception at the end of the walk.
Last year, the walk welcomed over 200 people from law firms, barristers’ chambers, legal advice agencies, courts, law schools and those associated with the law industry walking in teams or on their own but it’s also open to anyone who wants to support free legal advice in Oxford.
Why we walk:
The aim is to raise as much as possible for the advice agencies who are struggling to maintain services with the increased challenges created by COVID-19 and lockdown.
The number of people seeking help with Debt, Benefits, Homelessness and Employment has increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic. Those seeking help with Domestic Violence has also risen sharply.
Taking part in the Oxford Legal Walk raises vital funds for Citizens Advice Oxford, Rose Hill & Donnington Advice Centre, Oxfordshire Welfare Rights, and Agnes Smith Advice Centre.
Judge Joanna Vincent, from Oxford Combined Court, says
“Last year the Oxford Legal Walk supported many Oxford advice agencies, including Agnes Smith Advice Centre, Oxfordshire Welfare Rights and Citizens Advice Oxford. This support is vital at a time when many of our services are still under pressure due to Covid-19.”
“The Oxford Legal Walk changes real lives by allowing advice centres to support people facing homelessness, discrimination, wrongly denied benefit claims and asylum issues and who can’t afford to pay for a lawyer”.
Ruby’s Story
Ruby has a long-term physical health condition, which causes her severe chronic pain. This escalated to the point where Ruby could not work, and the Department for Work refused to pay her sickness benefit, claiming she was fit to work. Ruby came to a local free legal advice agency who helped her to appeal the decision, which was successful. This agency also helped her successfully claim for a disability benefit, to dramatically improve her quality of life. This was all possible because of the help and goodwill of the Oxford advice agency.
To sign up for the Oxford legal walk please follow this link, or email signups@llst.org.uk
For more information about the Oxford Legal Walk and LLST please visit the website
