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How your unclaimed balances can support solicitors in need.
By Nick Gallagher, CEO, The Solicitors’ Charity.
Did you know that 203% more solicitors needed our support in 2020?
When I took over the helm of The Solicitors’ Charity in summer 2019, I had a clear mission and remit to make sure that the organisation continued to do what it has done best since 1858: support all solicitors across England & Wales in times of need or crisis.
One of the most important things enabling us to achieve this mission of supporting solicitors and their dependents, is law firms donating unclaimed client balances. These might be just a few pennies or thousands of pounds but every single firm that donates to The Solicitors’ Charity is making a huge difference to the lives of solicitors across England and Wales who are struggling. We invest the sums involved to deliver a regular income for our work.
Some of the things that we are able to support solicitors with due to these donations are:
- Low income or no income from work
- Work-related issues, such as redundancy, stress burn-out, anxiety and bullying
- Unemployment and return to work
- Issues managing personal debt
- Challenges coping in older age
- Domestic violence
- Family breakdown and separation
- Addictions, such as drugs, alcohol and gambling
- Long-term health issues or short-term incapacity due to illness, accident or injury
We know exactly how much of a challenge dealing with unclaimed balances can be for firms, balancing the requirements of accounting rules and the prospect that your client may reappear at some point in the future. This is why we give law firms a complete guarantee that the sums they pass on to The Solicitors’ Charity will always be refunded, whenever they are reclaimed.
If you’d like to find out more about how your firm can support our work with unclaimed balances, click here.
The Solicitors’ Charity provides financial, emotional and practical support to help people get back on track when times get tough. If you are struggling, or you know someone who is, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or to pass on our contact details.