NCJ Number
51729
Date Published
1977
Length
106 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES A CASE STUDY OF EFFORTS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN ENGLAND WHO NORMALLY WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH SERVICES.
Abstract
THE NORTH KENSINGTON LAW CENTER OPENED IN 1970 IN A TRADITIONAL WORKING CLASS AREA OF LONDON, ENGLAND KNOWN FOR ITS POOR SOCIAL CONDITIONS. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE CENTER WAS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO THOSE WHO WOULD NOT NORMALLY HAVE SUCH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM. LIMITED CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THE STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CENTER. THE VARIED BACKGROUNDS AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WORKING THERE MEANT THAT EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING THE GENERAL GOALS OF THE CENTER WOULD BE DIFFERENT. THERE WERE DECISIONMAKING PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE BACKGROUND AND TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES, THE NATURE OF ASSIGNMENTS, AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. A REQUEST WAS MADE BY ONE OF THE FUNDING AGENCIES, THE NUFFIELD FOUNDATION, FOR A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE LEGAL ADVICE RESEARCH UNIT ON THE LAW CENTER. THE EVALUATION WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE AS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE CENTER ON CLIENTS, THE COMMUNITY, AND OTHER AGENCIES, AND OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CENTER IN ACHIEVING INTENDED GOALS. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE APPROACHES WERE COMBINED FOR THIS STUDY.