Thank you for contacting the City Community Legal Advice Centre. Unfortunately, we are now closed until Monday 16 September 2024 when we re-open to take client enquiries. 

 

The Centre normally opens in university term time only and offers both online advice sessions to clients with certain legal queries.  We also offer a form filling service for the welfare benefit, personal independence payment. More details of the service can be seen on our website: City Community Legal Advice Centre • City, University of London 

 

You are receiving this email because we cannot respond to your query during our period of closure.  

 

The email contains important referral information. Please note that as many legal disputes come with a time limit, it would be wise to seek advice elsewhere rather than waiting for our service to re-open. 

 

REFERRAL INFORMATION 

 

There is a useful guide on free legal advice here:  
https://probonoweek.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Guide_to_Pro_Bono_and_Other_Free_Advice_in_England__Wales_November_2023.pdf 
 
Lawworks  
We are a member of Lawworks. Their website provides a list of law clinics who provide free legal advice to members of the public. The website address is 
Legal advice for individuals | LawWorks 
 
Advicenow 
Advicenow are a charity who provide free helpful guides on areas of social welfare law. Their website address is 
Advicenow.  
 
Legal Aid 
You might be able to get free and confidential advice from Civil Legal Advice as part of legal aid if you are in England or Wales. You can check your eligibility here: 
Legal aid: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
To contact Civil Legal Advice telephone: 0345 345 4 345 or minicom: 0345 609 6677 
 
Law Centres 
You can contact your local law centre here: 
http://www.lawcentres.org.uk 
Law Centres help clients on areas of social welfare law.  
  

Citizens Advice  
Or you can visit your local citizens advice service 
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ or telephone 03444 111 444 
 

Find a solicitor through the Law Society 
The Law Society has a website where you can search for a solicitor. Search for firms using postcode and subject area. 
www.lawsociety.or.uk/findasolicitor 
 
Advocate 
May offer free representation at the tribunal hearing. You cannot approach them direct - you will need a referral from an advice agency (such as ELIPS), a solicitor or your MP. Here's how it works: 
Find out more about how our service works (weareadvocate.org.uk) 

If we can't help you, we may be able to signpost you (weareadvocate.org.uk) 

 

Free Representation Unit  
FRU provide casework and representation in Social Security appeals, and Employment Tribunals. They accept referrals from agencies who are part of there network. They also accept some direct referrals for cases which are less than a day long hearing in the Employment Tribunal: 
Employment Self-Referral | FRU (thefru.org.uk) 

 
You can access their website here: 
FRU | Free Representation Unit (thefru.org.uk) 
 
Employment Issues 
If you need help with employment law advice contact the ACAS Helpline on 0300 123 1100.  
https://www.acas.org.uk/  
 
Employment Lawyers Association  
Sources of legal advice and assistance | Employment Lawyers Association (UK) (elaweb.org.uk) 
 
Yesslaw (if you have an employment matter you wish to settle – this is a charity who operate fixed fees) 
Get in touch - Yesslaw 
 

HMRC Statutory Payments Dispute Team (T: 0300 0560 630) 

Insurance If you have household, car or other insurance cover, it may include legal expenses insurance, which can cover an employment tribunal case and some solicitors, barristers or other representatives offer a 'no win, no fee' service.  

You can find solicitors who specialise in Employment law here: 

https://www.elaweb.org.uk/advice/find-employment-lawyer  

 

The RCJ also have an employment service through Citizen Advice: 

https://www.rcjadvice.org.uk/housing/employment-law-advice-service/  

 

There is also some good sources of help on the Employment Rights Hub

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/communities-and-social-justice/employment-rights-hub-0 

 

The President of Employment Tribunals has issued guidance on preparing for cases, which can be downloaded from here 
 
Housing  

Shelter's website also has some other useful help if your case is not urgent Housing advice from Shelter - Shelter England  If you need emergency or urgent help with housing please contact the Shelter helpline 0808 800 4444 
 

You can also search your local council's website for service in your borough who might be able to help with your query: Find your local council - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
Additional resources are located here: 
Housing and local services - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
 
Mary Ward Legal Centre – The Mary Ward Legal Centre provides free, independent advice to people who live and work in London https://www.marywardlegal.org.uk/ 

 

Find out what welfare benefits you are entitled to, and where to get help if you have a problem with your claim: Advicelocal 

 

IPR Advice – Islington People's RightsIPR Advice – Islington People's Rights 
 

Welfare Benefits  
Alternative welfare benefits (including PIP form filling) services 
St Lukes cost of living clinic Advice and Support Clinics | St Luke's Parochial Trust (St Luke's Community Centre www.slpt.org.uk  
Appointments for the Form-filling clinics can be booked through St Luke's reception (020 7549 8181, 
info@slpt.org.uk). 
Westway Trust Cost of Living Crisis Clinic - 
Cost of Living Crisis Clinic (westway.org) 
Turn 2 Us 
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/ 
0808 802 2000 

 

Family issues 
Resolution - 01689 820 272   
https://resolution.org.uk/ to find a family specialist lawyer 
info@resolution.org.uk 
 
Ministry of Justice 
www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk/find-service.php 
 
Rights of Women  
https://rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-information/family-law/family-court-proceedings-can-get-advice-support/ 
 
Domestic Violence 
NCDV 
https://www.ncdv.org.uk/ 
0800 97002070 
Text: NCDV to 60777 
Email: 
office@ncdv.org 
 
Refuge  
0808 2000 247  
https://www.refuge.org.uk/ 
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ 
 
FLOWS  
https://www.flows.org.uk/support-for-women/in-danger 
 
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers  
APIL - Association of Personal Injury Lawyers 
 
Consumer Rights helpline 
Contact the consumer helpline - Citizens Advice 
 
Leasehold issues 
Leasehold Advisory Service - 
http://www.lease-advice.org.uk/ 
020 7832 2500 
 
Immigration advice  
Here are some resources where you can find help:  
https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser 
https://www.southwarklawcentre.org.uk/immigration/ 
http://southwarkadvice.org.uk/category/issue/immigration/ 
http://southwarkadvice.org.uk/category/issue/immigration/ 
https://www.lambethandsouthwarkmind.org.uk/directory/afro-asian-advisory-service/ 
https://migrantsrights.org.uk/resources/local-resource-guides/new-cross-south-east-london/legal-advice-free/ 
https://www.southwarkadvice.org/2018/02/02/migrant-legal-action/ 
 
Support through court  
Provides support with going to court without a lawyer. 
www.thepsu.org 
Email: 
LondonService@thepsu.org.uk
Tel: 020 7947 7701/03 to book an appointment 
 
Medical or psychological support 
If you need urgent medical or psychological support: 

  • Contact your GP to book an emergency appointment 
  • Call the Samaritans on 116 123 
  • Visit your nearest A&E: Find Accident and emergency services services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)  
  • If more immediate urgent care is required call an ambulance by dialling 999. 

We wish you luck with resolving your legal dispute, and hope you can obtain legal advice elsewhere. Please remember that many services are inundated with requests, so it would be sensible to approach a number of different organisations to see if they can help.  

 

Yours faithfully,  

 

City Community Legal Advice Centre Team