Advice Services & Legal Support
LASA (London Advice Services Alliance)
Grant-commissioned by London Councils to help organisations:
- give better welfare rights advice to clients
- use technology to deliver more effective and efficient services
- influence policy on advice and legal services
- raise awareness of the third sector’s technology needs with funders and government
Welfare benefits advice line: Mondays and Tuesdays 10.30am – 12.30pm and Thursdays 2pm – 4pm – 020 7247 1735
Lasa’s welfare rights website for advisers: www.rightsnet.org.uk
Welfare benefits and tax credit training courses for advice workers: www.rightsnet.org.uk/training.shtml
- Translated advice and information in twelve community languages: www.multikulti.org.uk
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LawWorks
An independent specialist charity which matches up volunteer lawyers to offer work in kind (pro bono) for the public good. LawWorks manages two services:
The Choices Project:
Any VCS groups / organisations that have need for volunteer lawyers are encouraged to contact the Project Officer (details below), with a description of the work that needs legal assistance, the location and the hours / days of work required. The Choices Project will best attempt to match up an appropriate lawyer / solicitor based on availability and expertise to offer direct assistance.
Initial Electronic Advice:
For VCS groups / organisations that only need assistance with short queries, you are encouraged to submit your legal query and have this answered by a qualified volunteer lawyer through email. Registration for this service is to be done from www.lawworksiea.org.uk
Examples of legal areas covered are by LawWorks are:
- Banking
- Competition
- Consumer credit
- Contracts
- Environment
- Family
- Health and Safety
- Housing
- Immigration
- Insolvency
- Insurance
- Intellectual property
- Mental health
- Data protection
- Finance
- Personal injury
- Public law
These are just some of the areas covered and enquiries are welcome for all aspects that may need legal assistance.
Lorna Heston, Choices Project Officer
Address: 10-13 Lovat Lane, London, EC3R 8DN
Tel: 020 7925 5601
Fax: 020 7929 5722
Web: www.lawworks.org.uk
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Professional support
The national ProHelp network includes firms of solicitors, accountants, architects, consulting engineers and surveyors, public relations and marketing agencies, and management and information technology consultants who provide free advice and support to charities and community groups. Details at:
Web: www.prohelp.org.uk
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The Advice Services Alliance’s Advicenow
The alliance provides legal information about a wide range of topics.
Web: www.advicenow.org.uk
