My friend and colleague David Harter, who has died aged 85, was a lawyer and campaigner who left a busy practice as a barrister in order to set up Islington Law Centre in the early 1970s.
He singlehandedly obtained grant finance from the London Borough of Islington and put together a strong team of staff and volunteers to create the entirely new concept of an advice agency, carrying within it the firepower of advocacy for both individuals and community groups. It also demonstrated the scale of unmet legal need that continues to this day.
Born in Colchester, David was the son of Jane (nee Shorrock) and Richard Harter, a naval officer. He left Haileybury school, Hertfordshire, in 1955, and undertook his national services with the Gurkhas, based in Hong Kong and patrolling the border with China.
On returning to Britain, David went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where in 1960 he gained a first-class degree in classics. He turned down employment with the secret intelligence service in favour of a career as a barrister and was called to the bar in 1963 at Grays Inn. David quickly developed a busy and successful multidisciplinary practice, which he combined with an active involvement with the London Samaritans. He wrote their constitution and answered the telephone to callers.
David left Islington Law Centre in the late 70s and then became centrally involved with the establishment of North Lambeth Law Centre. It was there that he became the advocate for Coin Street Community Builders and represented them at two public inquiries, in 1979 and 1981, each lasting a year, which ultimately led, with the defeat of serious commercial opposition, to the thriving Coin Street co-operative on the South Bank.
In 1985 David left North Lambeth and started the private practice firm of Harter and Loveless in Islington, focusing on criminal defence work. Around this time the Channel Tunnel rail link to St Pancras raised its head. David represented numerous community groups before the various parliamentary committees and was successful in securing the decision that the line should go underground from Stratford. He remained associated with the firm for the rest of his life, continuing to make successful appearances at Highbury Corner magistrates court when 80 years old.
David is survived by his wife, the playwright Caryl Churchill, whom he married in 1961, their sons, Joe, Paul and Rick, and seven grandchildren.
