Coram Children's Legal Centre

Coram Children's Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, their families and carers, as well as international consultancy on child law and children’s rights.

For over 30 years, CCLC has helped thousands of children and young people through telephone advice lines, online information and individual case work. We offer expertise in all areas of family, child and education law, including:

• Domestic violence
• Child protection
• Immigration/asylum
• School admissions

Part of the Coram group of charities, the Centre is staffed by lawyers and professionals with expertise in child, family, education and human rights law.

New report: 'Happy Birthday? Disputing the age of children in the immigration system' 

Children who arrive alone in the UK are regularly disbelieved about how old they are and can spend many years without access to education or appropriate support, or end up in unsupervised accommodation with adults or in adult immigration detention centres. The only way to challenge this treatment is to pursue costly and protracted legal proceedings. This new report examines the age assessment process and the practical and emotional impact of age disputes on young people in the immigration system. Read more here. 

School Admission Appeal?

If you have not been successful in securing the primary school of your choice for your child, please click here to download our FREE 'HOW TO GUIDE'.

Latest news

Lengthy disputes about the age of unaccompanied children are causing significant harm and high costs

17 May 2013: A new report by Coram Children's Legal Centre finds the inadequate system for assessing the age of children who arrive alone in the UK is having a damaging impact on children and is costing local authorities up to hundreds of thousands of pounds in unnecessary legal costs. Read more....

Another Home Office policy concerning children found to be unlawful

08 May 2013: Coram Children’s Legal Centre welcomes a new High Court judgment upholding the rights of children affected by immigration decisions. Read more...

Coram Children’s Legal Centre welcomes new guide on entitlements for adoptive families released today

03 May 2013: Adopters can find out what services and support they and their adopted children are entitled to in a new adoption ‘passport’ released by the Government today. Read more...

Training events

Our Migrant Children's Project is running training courses on legal aid and representation, registering children as British citizens, and an introduction to the rights and entitlements of young refugees and migrants. Find out more about upcoming courses and download the booking form online. 

Who we help: case studies

Find out how our legal practice unit is helping young people to find a safe, secure future through legal action by reading our case studies...

Legal updates

Read the latest developments in English law, from consultations and reports to legal news and Case law.

Please note that we are no longer able to provide legal advice via webchat, please read our factsheets or call our legal advice line, in our Free Legal Advice pages.