XN000022-1984-04-12 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1984

SIR PHILIP LEARNS ABOUT TEL-LAW SERVICE

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THE TEL-LAW SERVICE, WHICH PROVIDES LEGAL INFORMATION BY TELEPHONE, RECEIVED 10 870 CALLS DURING ITS FIRST MONTH OF OPERATION IN MARCH THIS YEAR, THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON- CAVE WAS TOLD WHEN HE VISITED THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE LAW SOCIETY LEGAL ADVICE AND DUTY LAWYER SCHEME TODAY.

ON ARRIVAL AT THE OFFICE IN SWIRE HOUSE, CENTRAL, SIR PHILIP WAS MET BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE, MR BRIAN TISDALL THE ADMINISTRATOR, MR JOHN MILLER AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS AND WAS BRIEFED ON THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SOCIETY.

UNDER THE TEL-LAW SERVICE, CALLERS CAN LISTEN TO ANY OF THE 26 TWO-AND-A-HALF-MINUTE TAPES ON TOPICS RANGING FROM MATRIMONIAL RIGHTS DURING MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND SEPARATION, LANDLORDS AND TENANTS RIGHTS, CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURES TO MONEY BORROWING.

THE NUMBER OF TAPES WOULD SOON BE INCREASED TO 50, AS VOLUNTEER LAWYERS IN THE SCHEME WERE WORKING HARD ON SCRIPTS, MR TISDALL SAID.

AFTER IDENTIFYING THEIR LEGAL PROBLEMS, THE CALLERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME OFFERED AT EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICES DURING THE EVENING, MR TISDALL ADDED.

A TOTAL OF 13 000 DEFENDANTS INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL CASES OR SERIOUS CASES IN JUVENILE COURTS WERE REPRESENTED BY LAWYERS IN THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME LAST YEAR, AND THERE WAS A HIGH ACQUITTAL RATE, SIR PHILIP WAS TOLD.

SINCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS RULES COMMITTEE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WAS SET UP IN MAY LAST YEAR, THE SOCIETY HAS SUCCESSFULLY HELPED 17 HAWKERS IN APPEALS AGAINST URBAN COUNCIL REFUSAL TO ISSUE HAWKER LICENCES, MR TISDALL SAID.

BEFORE LEAVING THE SOCIETY, SIR PHILIP WENT INTO THE OPERATORS' ROOM OF THE TEL-LAW SCHEME AND LISTENED TO SOME OF THE TAPES ON LEGAL ADVICE.

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