About Merseyside

Law Centre

We have been assisting the people of Liverpool with their benefit issues since the 1970s. We were formally established as Merseyside Welfare Rights in 1988 and are now Merseyside Law Centre. Our overall objective is to combat poverty and homelessness by providing free, accessible, confidential, quality advice and representation to assist clients to pursue their legal rights, within a framework of equality and opportunity.

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Our main office is located in the heart of the City of Liverpool.  We have a community advice service that operates from Dovecot and includes outreach advice services in Old Swan and Princes Drive.

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We provide specialist legal advice and assistance relating to welfare benefits, housing and money/debt matters. Our advice is provided to those in need, regardless of age, gender, race, or disability. Our activities focus on promoting social inclusion and relieving the needs of individuals, who are, or, who may become, socially excluded as a result of factors such as unemployment, race, financial hardship, ill health (physical or mental) and youth or old age. Our purpose is to assist individuals, by helping them overcome some of the difficulties that they face, and thus ensuring their successful integration into society.

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In 2016 we were awarded the prestigious Law Society Disability Access Scheme (DAS) scholarship which supports those facing exceptionally challenging circumstances, enabling them to pursue their law studies and career.

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Our welfare benefits advice team provides advice and representation on all matters from form completion, through to Tribunals, Upper Tribunals and Judicial Reviews.

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Our housing advice focuses on threats of possession of and  eviction from homes with a view to preventing homelessness. We also deal with disrepair and anti-social behavior issues.

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Our debt provision is able to provide expert advice on all debt matters, from single to multiple debts, including insolvency and bankruptcy advice.  The levels of advice range from negotiating and restructuring minimal debts, to attending court hearings of more involved and complex cases.

Our Team

Janet Coe -  Assistant Director / Solicitor

Sophie Brown -  Office Manager

Mary Heery - Solicitor

Lorna O'Reilly - Student and Volunteer Co-ordinator

Tom Lavin - Justice First Fellow/Trainee Solicitor

Siobhan Taylor-Ward - Solicitor

Peter Wildridge - Welfare Rights Adviser 

Lesley Tipping - Welfare Rights Adviser

Cath McGivern - Administrator

Karen Woodside - Administration / Projects

Jack Pooke - Administration Volunteer 

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Our team of experienced and dedicated staff have a diverse wealth of knowledge and expertise.

We are:

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Board of Trustees

Ms Siobhan Cotter-Burgess  - Chair

Mr Mark Weights - Director

Mr David Tighe - Director

Mr Nick Crofts - Director

Mrs Gillian Moglione - Director

Our Funders / Partners

Thank you to all of our funders including those above and members of parliament and local councillors who together enable us to help combat poverty and homelessness in our local area.