If you are seeking help on a legal issue, the following page provides details of where to go for help. These are the most common areas of civil law:
If you have a complaint against the police in relation to issues such as assault, false imprisonment or wrongful arrest, the
Citizens Advice Bureau has a useful section on their website which outlines your rights.
If you are seeking help and advice on the benefits and tax credits you are entitled to,
Essex Benefits Plus has all of the information you will need.
Clinical negligence refers to claims for damages against public and private medical practitioners. This includes treatment from doctors, nurses and dentists. GOV.UK offers information about
Civil Legal Advice.
Community care refers to the provision of services for older people, the sick and those with disabilities. If you have an issue with these services, which is not resolved by your local authority, you should seek the advice of a qualified solicitor.
For older people,
Age UK offers help and advice on issues such as healthcare, social care and equal rights.
For issues surrounding the purchase of unsatisfactory goods or services,
The Citizens Advice Consumer Service, a Government sponsored consumer rights group, should be the first port of call.
You can receive free and impartial advice on financial matters, including debt and insolvency from a number of sources. These include:
- National debtline – Offers free, confidential advice on a number of debt related issues.
Parents who make appeals against their local authority on issues such as bullying, special needs or school exclusion, may wish to seek legal advice.
The following offer help and advice on a range of employment issues, including unfair dismissal, discrimination and disputes over pay and conditions:
- GOV.UK – employment information from the government.
- Advice Now – A comprehensive guide to employment issues, with links to a number of other useful resources.
Common themes within family law involve the breakdown of relationships and the custody and maintenance of children. The following are useful resources for those faced with these issues:
Children’s Legal Centre – For issues relating to children following a divorce or separation, or education disputes, the
Children’s Legal Centre can help.
Divorce Online – Includes useful information on relationship breakdown and divorce, including benefits and housing advice.
Housing problems range from evictions and landlord disputes to nuisance neighbours. Organisations that can help you include:
- Shelter – Can help if you face being homeless.
- Crisis – Can provide assistance to find housing.
If you need information about nationality and asylum, including your right to live and work in the UK, please see the
UK Border Agency website.
If you have been injured in an accident which was not your fault, then you may be able to claim compensation. For more information, the Citizens Advice Bureau offers a useful guide to
Making a personal injury claim.
Public Law refers to activity that is delivered, controlled or regulated in some way, by either local or national government. Examples of this are local authority decisions on issues such as adult social care, education or planning matters.
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