Legal advice for DDPOs

See below for organisations offering legal support or advice to Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations.

The Public Law Project

Who are they?

The Public Law Project (PLP) is a national legal charity which aims to improve access to public law remedies for those whose access to justice is restricted by poverty or some other form of disadvantage.

What do they do?

Most of PLP’s casework is judicial review, though we also deal with Ombudsman cases and other forms of dispute resolution where appropriate. Our solicitors only take on cases that are within our casework strategy and our current priorities. Cases are taken on referral from solicitors and advisers. They are sometimes referred by other organisations or charities, such as Age Concern or NAVCA. We do not take cases on directly from members of the public.

How can you access the service?

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Bar Pro Bono Unit

Who are they?

A charity that helps to find pro bono legal assistance from volunteer barristers for those who cannot afford to pay and who cannot obtain public funding.

What do they do?

The Unit matches barristers prepared to undertake pro bono work with those who need their help. The office itself does not give advice.

The volunteer barristers can provide advice, representation and help at mediation; representation in any court/tribunal; give legal advice on any subject; and draft documents such as skeleton arguments.

The Unit can also help organisations find trustees with a legal background.

How do you access the service?

Organisations may apply to the Unit directly and have their own application form.
Visit the website www.barprobono.org.uk
More information if your organisation needs help
Get help finding a Trustee
Submit a query via the Bar Pro Bono contact form

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Ethical Property Foundation

Who are they?

The Ethical Property Foundation offers independent advice and training to help charities and voluntary groups rent, buy, let or manage their property.

What do they do?

Help charities access pro bono professional support on a range of building and property related issues, eg whether to buy or rent; lease issues; community asset transfer; more efficient use of building; sharing back office functions.

How can you access the service?

www.ethicalproperty.org.uk
Main office number: 020 7065 0760

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Get Legal

Who are they?

Online resources from Bates Wells Braithwaite, one of the leading leading charity and social enterprise law firms in the UK

What do they do?

BWB Get Legal brings you essential legal documents, available to download and customise for your organisation.

Drafted to the highest standards by charity law experts at Bates Wells Braithwaite, each document is tailored to your specific needs by guiding you through an easy-to-follow, step-by-step process.

Some resources are available free, including resources to help new charities and social enterprises in setting up, others are priced.

How do you access the service?

http://getlegal.bwbllp.com/

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LASA

Who are they?

A social welfare law and tech charity dedicated to supporting organisations in their use of tech and the delivery of social welfare law advice to the disadvantaged communities they serve.

What do they do?

Online guidance, training, advice, discussion forums, enewsletter.

How do you access the service?

www.lasa.org.uk

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LawWorks

Who are they?

LawWorks’ role is to work within England and Wales to connect people in need of legal advice and assistance, and not-for-profit organisations that support them, with the skills and expertise of lawyers willing to meet those needs for free.

LawWorks does not give legal advice itself.

What do they do?

LawWorks believes in the power of pro bono legal advice to help improve the lives of people in need by:

enabling access to justice to individuals in need of advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and are without the means to pay for a lawyer; and
brokering legal advice to small not-for-profit organisations, to support the continuation and expansion of their services to people in need.

Who are they for?

Small charities, not for profit, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises in England and Wales (some exclusions apply).

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.lawworks.org.uk
Find out more about LawWorks for Community Organisations
E-mail enquiries@lawworks.org.uk

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Rightsnet

Who are they?

London Advice Services Alliance (Lasa) welfare rights service.
(For more information on Lasa, visit www.lasa.org.uk)

What do they do?

Provide welfare rights and social welfare law information via the web.

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.rightsnet.com
Post in their discussion board at www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums

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Sandy Adirondack

Who are they?

An advice website run by Sandy Adirondack, a freelance trainer and consultant in the voluntary sector since 1980, working primarily on governance issues with a wide range of charities, campaigns and community-based organisations.

What do they do?

Free Legal information online. You can register for free regular updates in a number of areas.

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.sandy-a.co.uk/legal.htm

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TrustLaw Connect

Who are they?

TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono service that connects NGOs and social enterprises with the best law firms around the world.

What do they do?

Link organisations up to legal professionals for pro bono advice and support.

How do you access the service?

www.trust.org/services/trustlaw-connect/

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London solicitors

This is a list of solicitor firms providing legal advice and representation on Community Care, Public Law, Education, Disability Discrimination (please this is not a definitive or comprehensive list and inclusion does not imply personal recommendation on the part of Inclusion London)