Community Legal Advice
Encyclopedia
Community Legal Advice is a government-funded advice service set up by the Legal Services Commission
in the United Kingdom
. It aims to help people in England
and Wales
deal with civil legal
problems, and is part of the legal aid
program in those countries.
It comprises a telephone helpline, advice centres and a series of advice leaflets. Its services also previously included an informational website whose functions were taken over by the Ministry of Justice
site in February 2011. See: www.legalservices.gov.uk/public/community_legal_advice_helpline.asp
Until November 2008 the service was known as Community Legal Service Direct, and before that as "Just Ask!"
Community Legal Advice covers six legal areas:
in 2007), it was absorbed by the Department of Justice website. The original CLA site remains readable in "snapshots" in the National Archives.
Five Community Legal Advice Centres have been opened in
Centres are jointly funded by the Legal Services Commission and local councils.
Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission is an executive non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice that is responsible for the operational administration of legal aid in England and Wales.-Overview:...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It aims to help people in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
deal with civil legal
Civil law
Civil law may refer to:* Civil law , a branch of continental law which is the general part of private law* Civil law , a branch of common law dealing with relations between individuals or organizations...
problems, and is part of the legal aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
program in those countries.
It comprises a telephone helpline, advice centres and a series of advice leaflets. Its services also previously included an informational website whose functions were taken over by the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
site in February 2011. See: www.legalservices.gov.uk/public/community_legal_advice_helpline.asp
Until November 2008 the service was known as Community Legal Service Direct, and before that as "Just Ask!"
Telephone helpline
The Community Legal Advice telephone helpline gives specific, independent advice to people living on benefits or low income.Community Legal Advice covers six legal areas:
- Debt
- Welfare benefits and tax credits
- Housing
- Employment
- Education
- Family
Website
The Community Legal Advice website provided self-help information and tools to help people deal with common legal problems themselves. It included advice on areas of law not covered by the telephone helpline such as consumer law, health and social care. By February 2011 (like the online services of the Department for Constitutional AffairsDepartment for Constitutional Affairs
The Department for Constitutional Affairs was a United Kingdom government department. Its creation was announced on 12 June 2003 with the intention of replacing the Lord Chancellor's Department...
in 2007), it was absorbed by the Department of Justice website. The original CLA site remains readable in "snapshots" in the National Archives.
Community Legal Advice Centres
The Legal Services Commission also operates walk-in Community Legal Advice Centres. Centres give free, generalized, face-to-face legal advice at an initial appointment and further specialized advice for people eligible for legal aid.Five Community Legal Advice Centres have been opened in
- Derby
- Gateshead
- Hull
- Leicester
- Portsmouth
Centres are jointly funded by the Legal Services Commission and local councils.