Baroness Prosser is announced as patron of Legal Advice Centre

Baroness Margaret Theresa Prosser (pictured centre) has been announced as a patron of the University of East London's (UEL) acclaimed Legal Advice Centre in Stratford

 

Launched in 2010, the centre operates as a free law clinic for people in the Stratford community who are unable to pay legal fees or obtain legal aid.

 

Baroness Prosser, 78, a Labour life peer, was invited to become a patron in recognition of her long and distinguished career as a legal advisor and her numerous senior roles within the Labour Party and trade unions. She has also held senior positions on commissions for equal opportunities, low pay and women.

 

The Centre, based in UEL's University Square Stratford building, provides a valuable service for people in need of legal advice, with UEL law students holding face-to-face consultations with clients under the supervision of qualified solicitors.

 

It counts Bindmans LLP and McCormacks Law among its volunteer partners and runs an annual guest lecture series, which is open to the public.  

Commenting on her appointment, Baroness Prosser said, "I am honoured to be a patron of the UEL law clinic. As someone with many years of experience campaigning on behalf of consumers and employees, I know how valuable the services of a law centre can be, especially to the poorest members in our communities."  

 

"The staff and volunteers do a marvellous job and I look forward to supporting the mission of this flagship example of UEL civic engagement."

 

The appointment was particularly appropriate as Baroness Prosser is an alumna of UEL's predecessor institute, North East London Polytechnic.

 

She joins human rights lawyer and fellow UEL alumnus Imran Khan, who is the Centre's first patron. Mr Khan is a highly respected human rights lawyer who represented the family of the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Solicitor and Centre Director Patrick Koroma (pictured right with Supervising Solicitor Nicola Antoniou on the left), said he was delighted to welcome Baroness Prosser as a patron.

 

"Baroness Prosser has a distinguished track record in the fields of equalities and consumer rights, and has extensive experience as a law centre advisor," he said.

"I would also like to renew my thanks to Imran Khan for his continued patronage of the Centre. We are very fortunate to have two distinguished patrons, which is testament to the high regard the Centre is held in and the important service it provides to the people of east London."

 

Baroness Prosser performed her first duty as patron by introducing a public lecture on the topic of cybercrime by two experts from the National Crime Agency.

 

Baroness Prosser received an OBE in 1997, and was created a baroness in 2004. In 2012, she published her autobiography, Your Seat is at the End, with a foreword by former Prime Minister Tony Blair.