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Community Legal Service (CLS)- Civil areas of work
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Social welfare
- What is social welfare law?
- Buying integrated services
- Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes
- Seeking legal advice?
What is social welfare law?
Social welfare law covers:
- community care
- debt
- employment
- housing
- welfare benefits.
An integrated service enables clients to access a full range of legal aid services in one place, rather than going to several different advisers for different problems.
We are working to set up integrated services for social welfare and family law. These will cover legal help from initial advice to representation at court.
Buying integrated social welfare law services
Our transformation programme changes the way we buy legal services. The project to buy integrated social welfare law services is managed as part of this programme.
We are working jointly with local authorities to set up Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks. Buying integrated social welfare law services in this way is a key part of our strategy for the Community Legal Service.
Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes
The LSC funds 88 Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes in 113 courts throughout England and Wales to provide on-the-day emergency advice and advocacy to anyone facing possession proceedings.
The schemes allow anyone in danger of eviction or having property repossessed to get free legal advice and representation on the day of their hearing, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Following a successful pilot the LSC first rolled out these schemes in 2005:
- around 12,000 people receive help in 2005-06
- that figure more than doubled to around 30,000 during 2006-07, as the schemes became more widely used.
Due to the success of these initial schemes, and in the light of the current economic downturn, the Legal Services Commission recently ran a tender process for additional Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes in England. As a result 17 new schemes, covering 19 courts, will begin operating from the week commencing 17th November 2008.
This recent expansion means that the majority of courts in England and Wales that hear possession cases now have a Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme or a similar service funded through different means. A list of courts currently covered by LSC funded schemes is available in the documents panel.
Seeking legal advice?
- Worried about benefits or tax credits?
- Having problems with your child’s school?
- Are your debts out of control?
- Are you being treated unfairly at work?
- Are you having problems with your landlord?
Community Legal Advice can help with these kinds of problems if you are eligible for legal aid.
Call the helpline now on 0845 345 4345.
Calls cost no more than 4p per minute from a BT landline but calls from mobiles are usually more. Worried about the cost? Ask an advisor to call you back.
The helpline has a translation service if you would like advice in a language other than English or Welsh.
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Last updated: 19 November 2008