Using an Advice Service

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All the Advice Services represented on this website offer FREE, INDEPENDENT AND CONFIDENTIAL advice.

What is an Advice Service?

An Advice Service works with you to sort out legal and practical problems. This may involve a range of different services including the assessment of your problem, general advice, casework and representation at court or tribunal.

All the advice services represented on this website are registered charities and are quality marked. Examples of Advice Services are Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and independent Advice Centres. As charities, all the advice services do their best to offer you the support you need, but sometimes resources are limited. Priority will always be given to those in greatest need.

What help can I get?

Assessment
 What’s the Problem? Your problem may be straightforward, or it may involve 2 or more connected problems. It’s not always easy to work out where to start. Most advice services will start with an assessment to work out the problems before advice is provided.
General Advice
 The service listens to your problems, checks your rights and responsibilities, and gives you information about your options. Some practical help may be included. In many cases this is all the help you need to resolve the problem.
Casework
 Having assessed your problem and provided you with general advice, you may be offered a Casework service. This means the Advice Service (with your permission) agrees to act on your behalf (e.g. by making phone calls or writing letters) and works with you over time to resolve the problem.
Representation
 An Advice Service may offer you formal representation at a court hearing or tribunal.
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Enhanced Services (Advice and Advocacy)

There are some enhanced services which provide extra advice provision to specific groups, for example: parents of pre-school children, lone parents or people with disabilities. Some advice services also offer extra support services including advocacy.

Find more information about Enhanced Services.

Find an Enhanced Service Search