Legal workers came out in force across the country yesterday for this year’s Legal Walk.

More than 5,000 people joined in the event on Monday evening to raise £500,000 for free legal advice centres in London.

The Gazette acted as media partner.

As well as a 10km course in the capital, walks were also staged in Birmingham, Bristol, Guildford, Newbury and Nottingham, as well as one in Luxembourg.

The London Legal sponsored walk is now in its seventh year, and the 2011 event saw a sharp increase in turnout as lawyers responded to the funding crisis in law centres and proposed cuts to legal aid.

Bob Nightingale, chief executive of the London Legal Support Trust, said: ‘From law students to the most senior judges and law officers, the legal profession turned out in droves to support access to free legal advice for vulnerable people.

‘That is a credit to the legal profession and a great boost to the morale of its beleaguered voluntary sector.

‘Our regular large teams from City law firms, chambers, central London courts and colleges were joined by many more teams from high street firms and local magistrates’ courts.’

The London walk was led by, among others, the lord chief justice, the master of the rolls, the attorney and solicitor generals, the director of public prosecutions, the chairman of the bar and the president of the Law Society (pictured, centre).