History
DLS was originally run on a voluntary part-time basis at a Camden community centre, providing face-to-face advice at weekly drop in sessions. The demand for DLS’s advice and guidance quickly grew, and funding was sought to obtain offices and employ full time solicitors.
By 1983 an office was obtained in Princeton Street, London and DLS acquired a full time solicitor, a social worker and a secretary. By 1990 DLS had two full time solicitors and an administrator. In 1993 DLS recruited a full time Director to lead its team of three solicitors and administrator.
During the 1990’s DLS evaluated the needs of its service users and provided more specialised advice in areas of public and social welfare law. In 1996 a successful application to the National Lottery Charities Board (which became the Community Fund) resulted in DLS recruiting a full time Discrimination Law solicitor specialising in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The DDA solicitor set up the DDA Advisers Group and participated in other relevant forums concerned with fighting discrimination, in addition to delivering much needed specialist training.
By 1999 DLS was employing Community Care, Consumer / Contract, Education, Employment, and Welfare Benefits legal advisers.
In 2000 the Legal Services Commission awarded DLS a civil, not for profit contract in all five areas of law and that same year DLS moved from their over-crowded offices in Holborn to their current, fully accessible premises in Whitechapel, East London.
In the last six years DLS has moved from strength to strength. In addition to consulting with the government on key disability legislation, DLS has continued to win judgments that continue to improve the lives and life chances of disabled people. Whilst delivering specialist support and training for advocates and advisers of disabled people, DLS remains true to its original aim and maintains the provision of specialist high quality advice for all disabled people, their families and carers with free daily telephone advice sessions.