Problems

Legal Advice

Agencies providing advice, support and information

Action Against Medical Accidents:
0345 123 23 52
www.avma.org.uk 
Telephone advice and support to anyone who has been the victim of a medical accident. Includes medical and legal advice on the available options for a complaint.

Association of Child Abuse Lawyers:
020 8390 4701
www.childabuselawyers.com
Practical support for survivors and professionals working in the field of abuse. Open 10am-1pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.

BPP Free Legal Advice Family Law
0330 0 603444
https://www.lawworks.org.uk/legal-advice/individuals/bpp-legal-advice-clinic-family
Free legal advice relating to all aspects of Family Law and family disputes

Coram Children’s Legal Centre:
Child Law Advice Line
www.childlawadvice.org.uk
National education advice line providing information and advice and representation for low income families. Education legal advocacy unit for South East England provides advice and representation for children and/or parents involved in education disputes with a school or LEA.
About the Child Law Advice Service
The Child Law Advice Service is a digital first service. It offers access an up to date and developing resource library on all aspects of child, family and education law including bullying and family contact issues.  Specialist advice around complex areas of need e.g. around school exclusions and special educational needs is provided via a low cost advice line.

Children’s Law Centre - Northern Ireland:
0808 808 5678
www.childrenslawcentre.org
Advice and telephone helpline for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals on all aspects of law and policy affecting children and young people. 

Civil Legal advicee:
0345 345 4345
www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Information, help and advice for the general public o a range of common legal issues. Free initial advice from a qualified legal adviser on benefits and tax credits, debt, education, housing or employment. Further help available for those eligible for legal aid.  Also recorded messages give information on local advice services. Website offers information on sources of legal advice in England and Wales.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority:
0300 003 3601
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-injuries-compensation-authority
Enquiry point for anyone seeking information about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. 

Equality Advisory Support Service
0808 800 0082
www.equalityadvisoryservice.com
Expert Information, advice and support on discrimination and human rights issues and the applicable law.

False Allegations Support Organisation
03335 779 377 Open Mon to Fri 6pm to 10pm
www.false-allegations.org.uk
Practical advice and emotional support for anyone affected by a false allegation of abuse.

Howard League for Penal Reform:
020 7249 7373
www.howardleague.org
Campaign and carry out research on the penal system. Projects include suicide in prison, mothers and babies in prison, drugs in prison, rights of children in the juvenile justice system. Legal representation for child prisoners. Advice line for inmates of YOIs, Secure training Centres and Secure Children’s Homes on Freephone 0808 801 0308 Tuesday and Wednesday 11am to 5pm , Thursday 11am to7pm.

LAC (Legal Advice Centre) SPITE project
Run by Queen Mary University School of Law.
www.lac.qmul.ac.uk
Offers free advice to victims who have had their intimate images shared or where there is a threat of images being shared. Also advice on property issues, landlord and tenant disputes, employment issues, consumer transactions, private contracts, cohabitation, civil partnerships, immigration, discrimination, homophobic attacks, general crime, LGBT hate crime, LGT Police complaints, LGBT CRB checks and offences, start up businesses, etc. Free service to any member of the public needing legal advice in these areas.

Liberty Human Rights Information Line:
0800 988 8177 select option 3 from the main menu
https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/
Liberty Human Rights Information Line provides free legal information about public law and human rights law issues within England and Wales.

Public law and human rights issues involve a disagreement between an individual and a public body, such as the government, the council or the police. They can't provide information on topics that don't involve public bodies.

They can explain the legal background to your situation and offer some practical next steps. They can't provide specfic legal advice on an ongoing legal case and they can't offer legal representation over the phone.

The Line runs three times a week at the following times:

Monday evenings from 6pm to 8pm
Tuesday lunchtimes from 12pm to 2pm
Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8pm

Mary Ward Legal Centre (London area only)
020 7831 7079
https://www.marywardlegal.org.uk/
Free, independent advice to people who live and work in London to help them access their legal rights and entitilments.Specialist advice in housing, welfare benefits and debts. (based in Holborn)

Rights of Women
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
Rights of Women run Advice lines on Criminal and Family Law

Scottish Child Law Centre:
www.sclc.org.uk
Telephone advice and information on all aspects of Scottish law as it relates to the rights of children and young people.

The Monitoring Group:
020 7582 7438
www.tmg-uk.org
24 hour emergency helpline and other support for victims of racial harassment, police misconduct, domestic violence. Free legal advice available on Wednesday on a first come first served basis. Offices also in Devon and Nottingham. Based in Southall, Middx.

Whistleblowers UK
https://www.wbuk.org/
Help provide confidential support to people who have or are thinking about raising concerns and give unique and expert advice to organisations.

---

Useful websites

www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Find your local Citizen Advice Bureau office.

www.courtroomadvice.co.uk
Step by step advice for going to court

www.advicenow.org.uk
Information about law and your rights.

www.lawsociety.org.uk

www.lawworks.org.uk
Law Works is a Charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay and with the non profit organisations that support them.

http://www.mckenzie-friend.org.uk/
If you cannot resolve your family dispute through Mediation it may be necessary to make an Application to the Family Court to have a situation resolved by the Court.

Often you may find yourself being taken to Court by your ex-partner and may have little choice. It can be extremely expensive to engage a Solicitor to help you and Legal Aid is only available in special cases. If you elect to become a Litigant in Person you will need to be able to present your own case to the Court and this can be a daunting task both before, during and afterwards.

A McKenzie Friend can best be described as anyone who accompanies you to Court to help you as a Litigant in Person - those who are unrepresented by a Solicitor or engage a Barrister. Your McKenzie Friend is able to sit with you in the Court and offer advice and support as well as taking notes to help you.

There are some things that a McKenzie Friend cannot do on your behalf, such as conduct litigation, file Court documents and Statements etc. There is a Practice Direction issued by the Family Court which explains this in more detail.

McKenzie Friends support Families and their Children to help resolve family conflict. They are experienced with many having successfully representing themselves in a Family Court as a Litigant in Person. Others are professionally trained - some are qualified as a paralegal and others with a Law degree or other professional qualification. (NB nominal charges may occur)