Merthyr Tydfil and Nelson-based solicitors practice, JNP Legal has just won two new contracts to provide legal aid in cases relating to family law.
JNP Legal is now the only practice in Nelson able to offer legal aid and one of just a few practices in Merthyr qualified to provide the service. The firm has been offering legal aid in family cases since it was first established 30 years ago.
Whenever a bid is made for a legal aid contract The Legal Services Commission (LSC) will assess the application and make a decision. In order to obtain a legal aid contract solicitors firms must first be accredited with a LSC quality mark or the Law Society Lexcel quality mark. JNP Legal is the only firm in the Merthyr Tydfil and Nelson areas to have achieved and retained the Lexcel quality standard for over two years.
The contract to provide legal aid in the area of family law covers cases related to childcare, divorce proceedings and financial matters, amongst other things. JNP Legal hopes that the renewal will allow it to take on one new fee earner at its Merthyr Tydfil office, helping the firm to continue improving the service it offers its customers.
Penny Newman, head of the family department and a director at JNP Legal, commented: “Winning this contract is great news for both the firm and our local communities. We will now be able to continue offering high quality advice, information and representation to individuals in Merthyr Tydfil, Nelson and the surrounding areas who would not otherwise be able to afford such services.
“Legal aid helps more than two million of society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people deal with their legal problems each year and we’re proud to play a part in this.”