Leicester Community Advice Law Centre (LCALC)

Who we are

We have been working in Leicester City and Leicestershire for over 40 years. We work closely with other providers to reach individuals and communities who are most in need. We also play a leading role in the strategic coordination of advice services across the wider East Midlands region. 

What we do 

• Specialist advice and casework with regard to Debt, Housing, Welfare Benefits and Immigration  
• Advice appointments at our premises in central Leicester, at outreach venues across the city or by telephone; home visits can also be made in exceptional circumstances 
• Representation at Leicester County Court on debt and housing related matters  
• Representation at benefit tribunals 
• Advice on energy matters 
• Self-help packs and information 
• Digital advice and support 
• Leadership of the East Midlands Money Advice project and the East Midlands Immigration Network 
• Consultancy, information, training and support services for other organisations 

Our culture and values

We empower people to live happier lives by providing professional advice and advocacy that enables them to resolve their problems effectively. 

Our vision is of a fair and inclusive society in which everyone has access to justice and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. 

Our mission is to: 

• Enable people to assert and enforce their rights; 
• Empower people to improve their circumstances; 
• Give a voice to those who are unheard; 
• Support people to make positive changes in their lives: 
• Enhance people's overall sense of wellbeing; 
• Build resilience in individuals and at a community level; 
• Promote a fairer and more inclusive society. 

We seek to deliver this mission by: 

• Providing free, independent, confidential and quality-assured legal advice services to individuals across the area of benefit, for the advantage of the public, subject to funding constraints 
• Promoting self-help where appropriate and offer casework support for those unable to deal with legal matters alone 
• Ensuring that all services are available to all sections of the population irrespective of sex, gender, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, nationality, national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, and social class, and challenging all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. 

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

At LCALC, we are committed to fairness, inclusion, and opposing discrimination across all areas of our work. Our recruitment and progression practices are guided by equal opportunities principles, ensuring all candidates, whether for paid roles or volunteer positions, are treated equitably. We actively work to reduce unconscious bias, including through blind shortlisting and data monitoring at each recruitment stage.

All staff have equal access to training and development, and we are enhancing transparency around pay and progression. We monitor these areas closely and are improving our data collection to support deeper analysis.

We may use positive action in recruitment to address underrepresentation, in line with the Equality Act 2010, without giving undue advantage to any group.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support disabled applicants and employees. This includes adapting recruitment processes, modifying duties or equipment, and providing additional support where needed.

Our goal is to create a workplace where everyone can thrive, free from discrimination and with equal opportunity to grow.