STAFF, trustees and volunteers at Ealing Law Centre are celebrating being shortlisted for a national award in recognition of their achievements in the five years since it opened.

The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards recognise excellence in publicly-funded legal work, and are awarded by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group. The Law Centre is shortlisted in the Best Firm/Not-for-Profit category.

The idea of a Law Centre for Ealing was conceived in 2012 after several years during which borough residents had no legal advice organisation availablelocally.

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It opened its doors for the first time in April 2013, on the very day that cuts to civil legal aid came into effect.

In the five years since, the Law Centre has grown and added more services. In fact, it has had to expand its premises in Northfields.

The awards ceremony will be on July 17 in London.