LawWorks is a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay and with the not-for-profit organisations that support them.
Their website sets out how to find free legal advice and representation through its LawWorks Clinic network and also helpfully lists other organisations offering free legal advice.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) provides employees and employers with free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. It also offers training and help to resolve disputes.
To make a claim in the employment tribunal, you must first contact ACAS for early conciliation before submitting an online ET1 Claim Form within the strict time limits.
There are two types of LPAs:
A property and financial affairs LPA gives someone the power to make decisions about money and property, such as managing a bank account, paying bills, managing benefits. This can be used while someone has mental capacity, or drafted to come into force only if the donor loses mental capacity in the future.
A health and welfare LPA gives someone the power to make decisions about things like medical care and daily routine but can only be used when someone loses mental capacity.
You can create an LPA online and apply for it to be registered. Or you can download the forms and apply by post.
The OPG (Office of the Public Guardian) will check the LPA before they register it. You must show your LPA document or a certified copy every time you act on their behalf.
SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Services) is a statutory service. This means it is required by law.
The Children and Families Act 2014 says that local authorities must make sure parents/carers and young people can get information, advice and support about education, health and care.
Local authorities fund the service although it is required by law to provide impartial advice.
The Independent Provider of Special Education Advice is a registered national charity in England that provides free, legally based advice and support for families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
SOS!SEN is a national charity that aims to empower parents and carers of children and young people with SEND to successfully tackle the difficulties they face when trying to secure the right educational provision for their children.
They have an advice line for parents and carers, a Facebook page, walk in pop up advice centres, and provide 1-1 advice, a document review service and host webinars. Their volunteers have no specific FASD training as yet but watch this space!
These toolkits provide advocates with general good practice guidance when preparing for trial in cases involving a witness or a defendant with communication needs.