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.
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.
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.
In 2016 we were awarded the prestigious Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) scholarship which supports those facing exceptionally challenging circumstances, enabling them to pursue their law studies and career.
Our welfare benefits advice team provides advice and representation on all matters from benefit checks, to Tribunal representation, Upper Tribunals and Judicial Reviews.
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 behaviour issues.
Our Team
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Joseph Bliss - Administration Assistant
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Sophie Brown - Office Manager
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Janet Coe - Director / Solicitor
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Mary Heery - Solicitor
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David Kenny - Our Liverpool Caseworker
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Tom Lavin - Solicitor / Our Liverpool Project Co-ordinator
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Samantha Maher - Justice First Fellow / Trainee Solicitor
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Lorna O'Reilly - Student and Volunteer Co-ordinator
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Jack Pooke - Administration Assistant
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Lesley Tipping - Welfare Rights Adviser
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Peter Wildridge - Welfare Rights Adviser
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Karen Woodside - Office Manager
Our team of experienced and dedicated staff have a diverse wealth of knowledge and expertise. We are:
Board of Trustees
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Ms Siobhan Cotter-Burgess - Chair
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Mr Nick Crofts - Director
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Mrs Gillian Moglione - Director
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Mr Mark Weights - Director
Our Funders / Partners
We are a certified as a Disability Confident Committed Employer!
