About Rochdale Legal Enterprise

Rochdale Legal Enterprise (‘RLE’) is an idea that came about in 2011 when the government proposed the end of legal aid as we knew it. Rochdale Law Centre which had previously received legal aid funding  for 200 Immigration cases saw that reduce to 27 cases. As charities Law Centres could not charge for their services, so organisations started looking into ways of providing low cost, quality legal advice. RLE was one of 7 groups to be selected for funding from The Baring Foundation to test pilot a solution. Funding was also obtained from the Transition Fund to help support setting up a low cost employment law service.

The End of Legal Aid

As of 1st April 2013 legal aid for employment and immigration matters ended.  RLE aims to help mitigate the dramatic effect this has on access to justice. In Rochdale the Council also ended its funding for free employment and immigration advice.

The service complements the initial advice work given by generalist advice organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau. In the midst of the demise of legal aid and charity free specialist legal services, we have built partnerships with advice organisations to improve access to justice. Our services are also available to clients in the neighbouring areas of  Oldham, Bury, Calderdale, Bolton, Salford and Manchester.