West Cornwall’s first free Legal Advice Centre, based in Penzance will open its doors on 25th September 2025 from 5.30-7.30pm for the first time.
The West Cornwall Legal Advice Centre (WCLAC), located at Trelya’s Community Hub, the Lescudjack Centre, Treneere, will provide free legal advice for all who need it, and is the first of its kind in Cornwall.
The WCLAC, the brainchild of Barrister John Gallagher will operate weekly as a drop in on a Thursday evening from 5.30-7.30pm.
“We are very pleased to be able to bring local lawyers together to provide free legal advice to the Penzance community and I would like to thank everyone who has, and continues to give up their free time, to contribute to this much needed service”, commented John Gallagher, Director West Cornwall Legal Advice Centre.
Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, who officially opened the Centre last night, commented, “This is the first centre of it’s kind in Cornwall and has come together through a brilliant local effort. We hope it will reach those people who really need the help and compliments all the other services happening at this Community Hub”.
The creation of the WCLAC has been supported by the team from LawWorks, a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay. Richard Lynch, LawWorks Clinic Support & Development Officer (South West) commented, “It’s fantastic this support is being brough to the heart of the local community in Penzance. People are going through difficult times so this is a much needed service for the people of Penzance.”
The legal advisors will be offering free advice on issues such as: family law, domestic violence, housing, landlord-tenant disputes, neighbour and boundary disputes, inheritance / probate matters and contracts. Any additional lawyers interested in taking part please get in touch.
Andrew George MP, who is supportive of the project, commented, “Access to justice has become too much of an exclusive preserve of the better off. Having a service which opens the door to, and supports the justice-excluded – who are priced out of or bewildered / intimidated by having to learn what seems like a foreign language – is very exciting. A big thank you from me on behalf of the thousands of local people who could be helped by this wonderful initiative.”
