A huge group of people affiliated with the English legal profession is walking 40 miles in darkest February?to raise funds for London’s legal advice charities. New “registered walkers” include Lloyds PR solicitors, Baxter Webbe Solicitors and Islington Law Centre.

Each team has a fundraising page on Virgin Money Giving.? ?Very keen fundraisers are encouraged to establish their own individual page there but any team member can use the team page and ask everyone they know to sponsor them online through that page.

The purpose is as stated below:

 “Law Centres and specialist legal advice agencies provide their services through a mixture of legal aid funding, local authority funding and charitable donations.? The agencies make a huge difference to people’s lives, reducing debt, poverty and homelessness, and combating discrimination and injustice.? ?The Government have reduced the amount paid for legal aid by 10%. Local Authorities are reducing funding as part of their cost cutting.? ?In the second half of 2011 legal advice agencies in London have been closing at the rate of one a month. Had it not been for the funds raised by the walks and provided by law firms that closure rate could easily have doubled.? So while we can’t hope to replace the funding that is being withdrawn we can make a huge difference to the effects and maintain legal help for many thousands of vulnerable people.”

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers  has sent out this message to recruit walkers:

 “Times are hard. More people than ever need free legal advice about housing, debt, benefits and employment. But funding for legal advice centres is shrinking. On 18 and 19 February I shall be leading the annual “Walk the Thames” expedition from Canary Wharf to Hampton Court to raise some of the money that is desperately needed to maintain these services. The company will be great and the scenery a delight. Please come and join us, whether on foot or on bicycle.”

If you’re a student at BPP Law School, please contact the Pro Bono Centre (which can also be followed here on Twitter) on their email probono@bpp.com.  Every walker recruited produces more funds for the important charities, and every penny raised this year is especially vital.  A warm welcome is extended any family, friends or external colleagues who wish to join your team. So far, the organisers have raised over £11,000.

This event has a lot of prominent wellwishers: Jordans is providing a goodie bag, Clifford Chance is hosting the start and Jordans and BPP Law School will be buying all participants a drink at the end of each day. The organisers are also grateful, as ever, to Allen & Overy for designing and printing our publicity and drinks vouchers

The instructions to participants are as follows:

Start

Day 1 starts at 8.30 at Clifford Chance’s offices at 10, Upper Bank Street in Canary Wharf where C.C. have kindly agreed to provide a hot drink and biscuits to start walkers off.? ?Because we are starting at the Isle of Dogs there is a quite a bit of river crossing and a quick tour of Battersea Park to make up the lost miles from our old Thames Barrier start.? ?After circling the inside of the Isle of Dogs you stay on the North bank until Tower Bridge where you cross and take the South Bank to London Bridge; over to the North Bank to the Millennium Bridge, where you cross to walk the South Bank to Westminster. Cross again and along the front of Parliament setting off for Chelsea Bridge. Cross the bridge and the route takes a route through Battersea Park to Albert Bridge where you cross the river again. From there it’s a reasonably straightforward route to Putney Bridge which you cross to go to the Rocket pub at Putney Wharf Tower in Brewhouse Lane Putney http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-rocket  .

To see the map for Day 1 click here or go to http://g.co/maps/tc7nk

Day 2 will start at Putney Pier (Thames path south side again – just West of the Bridge) and take the South Bank Thames path all the way until we cross the River at Teddington footbridge. A little road walking takes you to Bushey Park where a circuitous route of the park makes the walk up to 20 miles before exiting at Hampton Court Gate and straight across the road. Enter through the back gate of Hampton Court and head for the main gate (signposted Trophy Gate) . Go out of the main gate and turn left and cross Hampton Court Bridge.  Cross the Road when you get to the station. Bridge road exits the small roundabout and the Prince of Wales is about 50 yds. down on the right. http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/12/128/Prince_of_Wales/Hampton_Court.

To see the map for Day 2 click here or go to http://g.co/maps/xt8cq

Start times?

Day 1 is scheduled to start at 8.00 a.m. Organisers will be there from 7.30 and they will remain there until about 9.30 a.m.   Participants do not have to wait for everyone to arrive before starting off. Day 2 participants get a lie-in as the organisers schedule the start at 9.00. Again organisers will be there half an hour in advance of the scheduled time and stay for an hour after.