Now in its 21st year, the London Legal Walk saw more than 700 organisations — including law firms, chambers, courts, legal support providers and charities — join forces to raise funds for free legal advice services. Walkers completed one of three designated routes through the capital, all culminating in a celebratory street party on Carey Street.
Since its inception in 2005, the London Legal Walk has united over 150,000 walkers and raised an estimated £11.5 million. The event is organised by the London Legal Support Trust and aims to support access to justice by funding frontline legal advice agencies that help individuals facing crisis.
Teams from across the legal profession were out in force this year, walking shoulder to shoulder through the city’s streets in a show of collective commitment to equal access to legal services. The atmosphere was festive but purposeful, with many participants donning team t-shirts and banners, and some organisations fielding groups of over 100 walkers.
Participants took to LinkedIn to show their appreciation for the event and the work that the charity is doing year after year, with one walker saying:
“These charities are doing crucial work, helping people facing serious issues like eviction, debt, domestic violence, and challenges with benefits or asylum. With the cost of living still climbing, access to free legal advice is more important than ever.”
Another said:
“This walk brings together the legal community in a big way, and I’m proud to have played a small part in something that’s making a real difference!”
The cause behind the walk remains urgent. Free legal advice services continue to face surging demand at a time of mounting financial pressure. The money raised from this year’s event will go toward supporting more than 100 advice centres that help individuals with housing, immigration, domestic abuse, and benefits issues.
According to the Trust, funds raised in previous years have helped provide life-changing legal support to over 12,000 people, many of whom would otherwise have struggled to access justice.
“Equality under the law is a central tenet of our society,” said a spokesperson for the London Legal Support Trust.
“By coming together each year, the legal community sends a powerful message that justice should never depend on your ability to pay for it.”
The London Legal Walk has grown steadily since its launch in 2005. What began as a smaller community event has become a fixture of the legal year — a moment of unity for a diverse profession committed to public service.
This year’s walk continues a proud tradition of collective action for the common good, offering a reminder of the profession’s ability to mobilise in support of fundamental rights.
With demand for legal advice rising and the funding gap for support services growing wider, the work of the London Legal Support Trust has never been more critical. As one of the few large-scale legal fundraisers with mass participation, the walk not only raises money — it also raises awareness of the invisible barriers many face in accessing justice.
The Trust will now turn its attention to year-round campaigns, but the momentum built on this year’s route — and the message it sends — is likely to carry long after the finish line.
