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Advice Now
Advicenow is an independent, not-for-profit website providing
accurate, up-to-date information on rights and legal issues,
and is funded by the New Opportunities Fund; the Legal Services
Commission; the Invest to Save Budget and the Department of
Constitutional Affairs. This information service brings together
the best information on the law and rights from over 200 UK
websites. It doesn’t use a search engine, every link has been
hand picked and summarised by a team of experienced advisers.
The site also has a section on living together and includes
a draft agreement for couples who want to protect their rights
in the event of the relationship ending.
Website: www.advicenow.org.uk/
British
and Irish Ombudsmen Association
The BIOA lists ombudsmen and other complaint-handling
bodies, covering most subjects, who may be able to help you,
if you have a complaint. Ombudsmen are an independent and
impartial means of resolving certain disputes outside the
courts. On the site are brief details of each scheme with
links and contact details.
Website: www.bioa.org.uk/
Community
Legal Advice
Set up by the Government, the objective is to assist
in finding help from legal service providers. There is a directory
of over 15,000 legal services providers in the UK with a search
facility by postcode. There are also useful leaflets on a
range of subjects which are available to download.
Website: www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/
Court
Service
The Court Service is an executive agency of the
Lord Chancellors Department. The site contains information
on Judgements, Court Guides, Tribunals, Fees and a digest
of weekly news items. There is also the provision of downloadable
forms and leaflets,
including those on divorce, housing and the Family Law Act,
1996. Find also addresses
of all local courts.
Website: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/
Department
for Constitutional Affairs
Responsible in government for upholding justice,
rights and democracy. Its objectives are to: provide effective
and accessible justice for all; ensure people's rights and
responsibilities; and enhance democratic freedoms by modernising
the law and the constitution.
Website: www.dca.gov.uk/
Law
Gazette
Although a publication produced by the Law Society
of England and Wales for Solicitors, it is a useful source
of information with news and features on the latest developments
in the law, with a searchable archive.
Website: www.lawgazette.co.uk/
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Law
Society of England and Wales
The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in
England and Wales, responsible for setting standards and improving
access to the law. The website includes information about the Law
Society and provides definitive authority on the rules and principles
of Solicitor's conduct, as well as how to choose a solicitor
and check their credentials in their directory, books, CD
roms, forms, and online information available from their publishing
service. The Law Society's solicitors-online
site contains a database of 80,000 solicitors which the user
can search by solicitor's name, firm name, specialism, location
or languages spoken. Also on the site is the Consumer Complaints
Service, which has replaced the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
and focuses exclusively on the rapid resolution of complaints about
poor service from Solictiors. Website: www.lawsociety.org.uk/
Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission
The website of the Northern Ireland Legal
Services Commission is designed to improve access to information
on the Legal processes. The site includes a directory of solicitors
that may be used for legal aid.
Website: www.nilsc.org.uk/
Law
Society of Scotland
The
website of the Scottish Law Society includes information on over
2000 firms across Scotland
Website: www.lawscot.org.uk/
Legal
Complaints Service
The Legal Complaints Service (LCS) investigates
complaints about solicitors. It handles over 300 calls a day on
a range of legal complaints and has a dedicated staff of 390 helping
you to resolve your complaint.
Website: www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/
Legal
Island (Ireland and Northern Ireland)
The site features links to hundreds of web pages
with information relevant to the law in Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland. It will be of assistance if you require information
on civil or criminal legal aid, the law society, finding a solicitor
or law firm in Belfast or Dublin, new legislation or court judgements.
Website: www.legal-island.com/
Legal
Services Commission (formerly Legal Aid Board)
As well as administering the Legal Aid System a series
of booklets are available, such as A Practical Guide to Legal Aid,
giving a readable explanation as to how the system works. In addition,
the Community
Legal Advice is developing networks of people giving legal help
and advice such as on housing, benefits and debts. Some help and
advice is free. The Legal Aid Board has been replaced by the Legal
Services Commission, which now runs the scheme (the equivalent
body in Scotland is the Scottish
Legal Aid Board).
Legal Services
Ombudsman
The Legal Services Ombudsman oversees the handling of
complaints about solicitors, barristers, licensed conveyancers and
legal executives by the four professional bodies responsible for
setting and maintaining standards of conduct and service within
the legal profession. A free of charge service, the primary role
is to investigate the way these bodies have dealt with complaints.
In exceptional circumstances the subject matter of the original
complaint will be investigated. Most cases involve allegations of
either professional misconduct or poor service by lawyers.
Website:www.olso.org
Married or Not
On these pages you will find: a simple overview of the legal position
of married and unmarried couples; a look at how the myth of common-law
marriage came about; key facts and trends; and research on the changing
nature of marriage and who cohabits, when and why?.
Website: www.oneplusone.org.uk/marriedornot/
Official
Solicitors Office
The Official Solicitor provides representation for minors
or adults under legal disability, and sometimes others, in County
Court or High Court proceedings in England and Wales, and in the
Court of Protection. This site has technical and practical information
for members of the general public as well as the legal profession.
Website: www.courtfunds.gov.uk/os/offsol.htm
Scottish Courts - DIY Divorce?
Guidance published by the Scottish Courts on the simplified
divorce procedure in Scotland. Online leaflet provides information
on whether you qualify, how much it costs and what you have to do.
Website: www.scotcourts.gov.uk/session/rules/chapter49_11.asp
Resolution
(previously Solicitors Family Law Association)
An association of over 5,000 solicitors who agree to
a Code of Practice covering relationships with clients, dealing
with other solicitors, dealing with parties not represented by a
solicitor, court proceedings, children and when the client is a
child. The code is meant to be flexible and where necessary, solicitors
may depart from what are guidelines not rules.
Website: www.resolution.org.uk/
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