Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has played an instrumental role in saving the South West London Law Centre (SWLLC) from closure. Financial difficulties had threatened the future of the SWLLC before a group of local MP’s convinced the Government to introduce a new business model for law centres.

Sadiq Khan, along with fellow Labour MP’s Siobhan McDonagh and Martin Linton, answered the call for help from the SWLLC in late 2009 and today welcomed the Governments response. The new business model brings together the government, local law centres, city law firms and independent funders to help ensure law centres are efficient, sustainable and well funded. The lessons learned from this project will be invaluable in assisting other law centres with building sustainable models.

Sadiq Khan MP said “I’m delighted that the Government has acted on our calls to save the South West London Law Centre. I have seen first hand that when my influence as an MP has reached its limit, the SWLLC has been able to provide invaluable advice and representation to people who need it most.”

“The importance of legal aid cannot be underestimated. This new model will help law centres to operate efficiently and effectively, allowing them to provide a consistently high standard of service to the people that rely on them for help”.

Legal Aid Minister, Lord Willy Bach, visited the SWLLC this morning to announce the business new model. Sadiq Khan was needed in Parliament to answer oral questions as Minister for Transport, but Lord Bach was joined at the centre by Siobhan McDonagh MP.