Dentons launches second PopLaw pro bono legal advice clinic in Tower Hamlets – with support from Queen Mary students

Leading multinational firm Dentons has launched a second ‘PopLaw’ legal advice clinic in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, following the success of its first weekly pro bono centre in the Poplar area of the borough.

The new PopLaw clinic is based in Whitechapel. Like the Poplar clinic, it is staffed by volunteer lawyers from Dentons, supported by students at Queen Mary, University of London. Both clinics provide legal advice to residents on matters including debt, housing, consumer matters, employment and welfare benefits – meaning that they are a vital lifeline in Tower Hamlets, where over half the children in the ward live in poverty according to the Tower Hamlets Fairness Report 2014. Since setting up pro bono services in Tower Hamlets, Dentons lawyers have advised over 4,500 people who would otherwise not have been able to afford legal representation.

Brandon Ransley, Dentons’ UK managing partner, said: "We are delighted to be launching a second PopLaw legal advice clinic. We have seen a huge increase in demand for free legal advice in the wake of recent cuts to the legal aid system. While pro bono is not an alternative to legal aid, a growing network of local clinics – such as PopLaw – make a positive difference for thousands of people who would otherwise struggle to access advice and support.”