Legal advice charity launches ABS
updated on 09 May 2013
Leicester-based legal advice charity The Community Advice and Law Service (CALS) has become the first not-for-profit organisation to establish an alternative business structure (ABS).
As reported by Legal Futures, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has approved CALS's plans to set up a for-profit ABS solicitors firm called Castle Park Solicitors Community Interest Company. CALS provides free advice on housing and debt, and will use the profits generated by the new law firm to make its free services less reliant on grants and government funding.
The SRA waived the separate business rule for Castle Park Solicitors, which would have obliged CALS to also become regulated.
Glenda Terry, head of finance and administration at Castle Park, said: "We set [the ABS] up because we wanted to have the facility to provide good-quality legal advice and representation mainly in the areas going out of scope of legal aid. We have pitched our fees competitively and hope it will be attractive to those on low to medium incomes."
