Free Legal Advice Centre

Toynbee Hall’s Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC), established in 1898 as the world’s longest continuously operating free legal service, provides expert legal assistance to vulnerable communities facing poverty-driven challenges. Over 125 years, FLAC has consistently bridged the justice gap, addressing issues from housing insecurity to employment rights. Crucially sustained by dedicated corporate partnerships, including Ashurst, A&O Shearman, Cleary Gottlieb, and recently Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer), FLAC harnesses professional expertise and corporate resources to ensure access to justice. This thriving partnership model, managed collaboratively through a Strategic Steering Group involving all partner firms, effectively aligns pro bono expertise with evolving community needs. Approximately half of FLAC's clients come from London, with the remainder from across the UK, reflecting its wide-reaching impact. Together, the partnership has empowered thousands to overcome legal challenges, significantly improving financial stability, emotional resilience, and community wellbeing, demonstrating the power of sustained corporate-charity collaboration.