Praise for legal advice telephone hotline

The telephone hotline is part of the national Community Legal Service Direct initiative, which is funded by legal aid, and is run by Howells Solicitors and training and business services company A4e.

The service has been up and running since April and provides advice on a number of areas of law, including debt, welfare benefits, housing and employment.

During a visit to Sheffield to see the service in operation, Carolyn said: “This is a hugely significant development for the Legal Services Commission and it is clear that the winning partnership of Howells Solicitors and A4e is working well.

“They have achieved a significant amount in a very short space of time – securing the premises, setting up the systems and recruiting a strong team of skilled and qualified caseworkers and supervisors, and we are really impressed with the way things are going.