Coram Children's Legal Centre

Coram Children's Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, young people, their families, carers and professionals, 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, as well as immigration, asylum and nationality law, including:

• Domestic violence
• Child protection
• School admissions

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

Latest legal aid proposals

On 9 April 2013 the Ministry of Justice issued a consultation on huge changes to both criminal and civil legal aid, closing on 4 June 2013. Read CCLC's briefing on the consultation and the potential impacts of the proposed changes on children, young people and families. To learn more, attend an urgent meeting for the children and young people's sector on Friday, 24 May at CCLC.

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'.

Please note that we are no longer able to provide legal advice via webchat. Please read our factsheets or call our Child Law Advice Line.

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

8 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

3 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...