MSB Solicitors has acquired a significant new family legal aid contract for its Manchester and Widnes-based practices.
The new contract follows a well-publicised increase in demand for legal aid services across the UK.
The value-led firm has also announced highly experienced new legal hires across its family law teams to support and drive forward its latest expansion.
MSB is also offering free legal training to local services to help them improve access to and awareness of legal aid for eligible members of the public.
Quality legal aid
Emma Palmer, director at MSB said: “We are delighted to win this contract and support families looking for quality legal aid. We are also looking forward to providing training for organisations who can help signpost the public to family legal aid services.
“This win has come at the perfect time for us as we have significantly invested in our family law department with notable and highly experienced hires and have plans to expand it even further.
“We are excited to offer our legal aid services to clients across the North West, building on our position as the region’s leading legal firm.”
As part of the contract win, the firm will extend its family law expertise further to provide free legal training to local services or organisations who need it. The training will provide them with the knowledge to signpost local people towards the legal aid they are eligible for.
New appointments
The new contract also follows the appointment of Katie Jackson as a senior associate in Manchester. Katie brings many years of experience to the family law team representing children in family court proceedings. Katie will play a key role in driving delivery of the new contract forward.
Joining to play a key role in the Manchester family law team is experienced solicitor Lucy Eatogh, with over 15 years of experience who joins from Higgins Miller Solicitors.
As a further significant boost to services, the firm is also adding a senior level family law expert with 20 year’s of experience to its office in Widnes, Cheshire. And solicitor Anna Streather is also announced to be joining the Cheshire team from AFG solicitors.
In addition, trainee legal executive Rebecca De Stefano has joined the firm’s Wavertree office in September from Morecrofts Solicitors. Rebecca is a fluent Spanish speaker and has been supporting with the firm’s Spanish cases.
MSB looks forward to delivering this expansion of its services which will benefit communities and drive justice across Manchester, Widnes and beyond.