Martin Searle Solicitors In The Community

Working with the Local Community

How we support local charities and organisations

We offer pro bono work through our community engagement strategy which involves running free legal advice clinics and training for charities, voluntary agencies and social enterprises to support those struggling with:

Discrimination in the workplace
Fair access to work due to discrimination
Access to social and health care services and housing
Employment rights or access to public services as a result of caring responsibilities

In 2012 we provided over 120 hours of free legal advice in Sussex and Surrey to organisations such as Age UK, The Carers Centre, Alzheimer’s Society, Brighton Housing Trust and ESRA.

During a recent independent assessment, Investors in People praised our “strong commitment to social responsibility… underpinning the caring reputation and social ethic the firm has developed and is proud of“.

Our campaigns and awards

In 2010 we won the Sussex Business in the Community Award and have twice been shortlisted for Law Society National Excellence Awards in Community Involvement. Director Cate Searle has also been shortlisted for a Law Society / Association of Women Solicitors’ Woman Solicitor of the Year Award, and in December 2012 won Boss of the Year in the Sussex Business Awards.

We run regular campaigns to raise awareness of the difficulties people face accessing the law and protecting their legal rights. Our “Mind The Bump” campaigns have highlighted the problem of pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace, for which we won Digital Media Campaign of the Year in the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2012. As well as putting the issue on the public agenda, we offer free legal advice to employers and employees. We have also worked with business support organisations – including Brighton Community Works, Wired Sussex, MDHUB and Acas – to deliver free training.

We support local charity Adventure Unlimited who transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young people through outdoor education and adventure.