An innovative video conferencing scheme linking lawyers to the public, free to use and provided by Instant Law went live in an Oxford community centre today. As reported before HERE, up to four million library users are now able to access free legal advice via webcams after Birmingham and Westminster city councils joined up with Instant Law.

The idea is that members of the public will be able to use a simple set-up menu on a dedicated computer screen in a secure location to talk directly to a specialist lawyer who will be able to give them advice and help over a range of subjects including immigration, employment, landlord and family issues. The initial consultation will be free to visitors. One of the screen options that users will be offered is to link directly to www.thejusticegap.com. As of today, users of the OXSRAD recreation centre in central Oxford can also use the service.

Katie, an OXSRAD member of staff, talks online to a solicitor

Jon Robins, editor of www.thejusticegap.com, writes a weekly blog for Instant Law HERE. Jon will be writing about ‘access to justice’ in the context of deregulation of legal services under the Legal Services Act 2007 and the cuts to the legal aid scheme under the government’s proposed legal aid reforms.