Governance Arrangements

Hackney Community Law Centre is managed by an independent Board of Directors, which is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting from members of the public, or co-opted as necessary in accordance with our organisation’s Articles of Association. The Board of Directors is required to have regard to the independent status of the Law Centre (as are all members of staff).

The Board of Directors has overall managerial responsibility for the Law Centre, its staff group, the services that are provided and all other legal responsibilities of the organisation. In practice, the staff are responsible for day-to-day management, subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors usually meets every fourth Monday, every two months, at 7.00pm in the evening, and at other times as necessary.

The Constitution

Hackney Community Law Centre’s constitution is available upon request.

The Board of Directors elected to serve in 2011-2012 are:

Cllr Ian Rathbone – Chair

Ian has been a member of the Law Centre Management Committee (now Board of Directors) for around 16 years, and in his third year as chair. He has a background in media relations and public affairs work, and in legal and financial advice.

The other members of the Board of Directors are:

Megan Redmond – Vice Chair

Matthew Howgate – Treasurer

Cllr Deniz Oguzkanli

Kirsten Heaven

Lawrence Abe

Liza Scicluna - Liza works for an International Childrens Rights charity. She is a professional Project Manager and has a Masters in International Law. Since 2004, she has managed legal and protection programmes, and has considerable experience of working with national and international funders to deliver successful projects. She has a strong interest in access to justice and in delivering tangible results to legal aid clients.

Ruth Appleton - 67 years young from East End Jewish Communist roots. Co-ordinator of an Asylum campaign group: Santé Refugee Mental Health Access Project. Former development/social worker and still a trade union delegate. Campaign for BAME Mental Health/Social Care service users and on the Governing Council of Camden & Islington Mental Health Foundation Trust. Forget patronising men! Just back from a work brigade in Cuba. Fought all my life for my beliefs and don’t intend to stop now.

Alhaji Sesay

John Stewart - John Stewart has been associated with Hackney Law Centre since 1996. He got involved after the Law Centre supported a campaign against the deportation of a family from his local church. He served as chair of the committee between October 2006 to January 2010.