Double-digit turnover growth at Newcastle legal practice empowering vulnerable people

A not-for-profit legal practice based in Newcastle city centre is creating jobs after projecting year-on-year turnover growth of 14%.

The North East Law Centre (NELC), which marked its 40th anniversary this year, is expecting to generate a turnover of around £376k in 2018/19 – up from £324.7k last year and £282.8k in 2016/17.

The organisation provides free and affordable fee-paying services for people living and working in the region, supporting access to justice for society’s most vulnerable.

Its key funders include Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Greggs Foundation.

NELC director Michael Fawole explained that to accommodate its growing workload, the organisation is recruiting three advisors and an additional trainee solicitor, which will take its headcount to 14 over the next three months.

Michael said: “The centre plays a valuable role in the North East community, helping vulnerable people gain access to justice by ensuring they know their rights and are empowered to enforce them.

“While our funded services have grown, with more support from key partners across the region, our private services are also developing, and our turnover this year is projected to exceed last year’s £290k mark.”

He continued: “All our advisers are highly experienced and passionate about securing access to justice for their clients, and all our solicitors are fully qualified and have many years of private practice experience.”

In 2017, the NELC supported more than 1,022 clients and interacted with over 120 local organisations, saving clients more than £470k in legal advice fees as a result.

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