Get Advice
How to get advice if you are a member of the public
We offer free legal advice through our partner organisations and UEA students volunteer at all these organisations. Below, you will find information about what each of them does.
All appointments for help must be made with the partner institution directly. Click on the service name for a link to further information and contact details.
SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH NORFOLK COMMUNITY LAW SERVICE
Welfare Benefits Advice and Advocacy
Help if you think you are not getting the benefits to which you should be entitled, including representation at appeals tribunals.
Legal advice about discrimination.
Advice on all aspects of family law including divorce, the breakdown of unmarried relationships, child maintenance, and disputes about children and property. Free legal advice, some casework done for children matters, and the Family Court Support Service (a McKenzie Friend service of non-lawyers who can come to court to support you). Our Director is one of the solicitors offering free legal advice.
A full appointment with a solicitor to talk you through your options, such as to seek a non-molestation order and/or an occupation order.
Help with debt problems including advice on your options and (if you want) help contacting your creditors.
For help with permanent residence, visas, and indefinite leave to remain, family member applications, citizenship and passport applications, including EU Settlement Scheme and Ukrainian nationals.
For those who are underpaid, are having issues with maternity or paternity leave or have been discriminated against in the workplace. See also our Discrimination Law Clinic.
For all civil law matters (everything not above and not criminal) such as consumer rights, housing and contract disputes, NCLS has some limited capacity to provide advice. (Note that the Law Clinic has a separate civil mediation service suitable for most civil disputes.)
Shelter is a charity that provides help for housing problems and homelessness, including repossession, eviction, repairs, tenancy deposits, and council help. They provide online, phone, and face-to-face advice and representation and their website is excellent.
Their case law work in Norfolk is restricted to challenging decisions that people are 'voluntarily homeless' and repossessions.
Norfolk Community Foundation is an organisation that helps small charities and community groups to build stronger communities by providing funding and advice. UEA Law students help by providing toolkits for organisations to use.
SERVICES OFFERED BY THE JUSTICE PROJECT
UEA’s Justice Project works with people who have been convicted of serious crimes but maintain their innocence, to see if there are grounds to overturn their convictions. Students can often be found in the Law Clinic sifting through evidence boxes to reassess the evidence against the prisoners and identify new lines of enquiry. The project is run by Louise Shorter. Please see our Justice Project page for more information.
SERVICES OFFERED BY STREET LAW
Street Law is a UEA project providing outreach to schools and community groups wanting legal training or activities. Please see our Community Outreach page for more information.