A charity which gives free legal advice and representation to vulnerable Hackney residents has unveiled its first ever patrons.

The Hackney Community Law Centre (HCLC), which is at risk from massive government legal aid cuts, hopes high profile patrons like MP Diane Abbot and human rights lawyer Louise Christian will help them campaign for more support.

Yesterday (Thursday) Ms Christian was welcomed to the law centre, in Lower Clapton Road for the first time. She has represented Guantanamo Bay inmates and the kettled Oxford Circus protesters as well as the widow of poisoned former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Hackney resident Ms Christian said she was very pleased to become a patron of the charity she admired so much.

She added: “I hope to contribute to the work of the Law Centre personally myself by volunteering at HCLC’s new community legal advice sessions. The work that Hackney Community Law Centre is doing is enormously important for our community”.

Welcoming all the new patrons, Ian Rathbone, chairman of HCLC said: “I am delighted to welcome our new patrons to the Law Centre.

“Our new patrons’ support is good news for the poor and vulnerable in Hackney, trying desperately to access justice in these difficult times.”