Legal Practice
Our Legal Practice Unit (LPU) has a legal aid contract to provide legal casework advice, assistance and legal representation to clients in relation to community care law matters, such as:
- Age assessments
- Local authorities duties to children in care and young people leaving care
- Support from local authorities and other agencies for families and children
- The rights of disabled children and children with additional needs
- Housing for young people in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation or who are experiencing homelessness
Our LPU has limited capacity to take on community care cases but from time to time we may be able to take on new cases. If you have a case and would like to check if our LPU is able to help, please send us some brief details by email to commcare@coramclc.org.uk with the subject heading ‘Representation Request’.
If you do not hear back from us within 5 working days, that unfortunately means we are not able to assist you and we would suggest that you contact other lawyers by using these websites: http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/ and http://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk/. Alternatively you can contact our Child Law Advice Service below.
Coram Children’s Legal Centre’s Child Law Advice Service advises on community care issues, including on the duties and responsibilities of local authorities to children in need.
The Child Law Advice Service provides free legal advice and information, and a dedicated phone line. Please visit the Child Law Advice website for full details of the service.
Young people in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation, or who are homeless
Our Housing Solicitor is able to provide advice and assistance for young people on a range of complex issues relating to housing, including possession proceedings, homelessness, disrepair claims and unlawful eviction. See here for full details of the service.
Migrant and refugee children
If you are seeking advice regarding local authority care for a child or young person subject to immigration control, including issues such as age assessments and leaving care support, see our fact sheets or contact the Migrant Children’s Project advice line.
