Adviceguide
Community Legal Service Direct- Just Ask!
This is the website of the Community Legal Service (CLS). Community Legal Service Direct provides free information, help and advice direct to the public on a range of common legal issues via a national helpline (0845 345 4 345) and a website (www.clsdirect.org.uk).
COPCA
"Catholic Office for the Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults" - COPCA is accountable to the Catholic Bishops' Conference & the Conference of Religious through its independent Management Board. Its purpose is to co-ordinate & monitor the implementation of A Programme for Action (Lord Nolan, Sept 2001) within the Catholic Church in England & Wales, with the aim of creating a model of best practice in relation to the protection of children, young people & vulnerable adults. It works with Diocesan & Religious personnel to develop national policies & procedures and to provide advice in relation to best practice. A public Annual Report is issued. COPCA also acts as the Registered Body for Criminal Records Bureau checks.
Delia Venables Web Site
- an excellent source for Lawyers - it gets 90,000 hits per month! It is an essential starting point for lawyers who want to find links to any site in this country and abroad. The writer always uses this as a starting point - it is easier than the search engines. For instance Free Electronic Legal Aid Forms and a Free hyperlinked version of the CPR were advertised here. It has saved us £1500
Department of Justice
Find any information upon any pending legislation - government plans upon the law - news on changes to all aspects of justice.
Free Law
A site dedicated to promotion of other sites - lawyers and non-profit making organisations
House of Lords Judgments
All the judgments of the House are listed in full since 1996 - a good source - useful especially for the case of Barret v. Enfield B.C. which everyone was waiting for
Law.com
"Law.com/uk is the most comprehensive, authoritative and topical legal resource available. We started with a team of journalists and lawyers, added the most reliable and respected sources available, put online tools at your fingertips, and developed real-time updates, all to create the definitive website for every legal professional in the UK." To quote the front page of the site. Looks good and seems to have lots of links - our site amongst them.
Legal Services Commission (formerly the Legal Aid Board)
A brand new site much improved upon the old site with details of franchising, links to free new forms, a full copy of the Focus magazine (You need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free of charge and can be downloaded from the site). A stimulating read for the Legal Aid enthusiast
National Association of Counsel for Children
This is a professional American site which is worth a visit - they say on their opening page - "The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is a non-profit professional membership organization dedicated to quality representation and protection of children in the legal system. The purpose of the NACC is to assist attorneys and other professionals in their work with children in the legal system. At the same time, the NACC carries out a Policy Agenda designed to improve the legal system for children. If you are an attorney, guardian ad litem, judge, CASA volunteer, pediatrician, case worker, therapist, or simply someone who cares about kids - the NACC is your membership association. NACC membership supports your work and the children you care about."
New Law Journal
"Every week NLJ provides in-depth reporting, analysis and independent comment, plus news and views about the law, lawyers and the legal process." One of the oldest and reputable journals for lawyers.
Official Solicitor
This site contains a lot of information about this vital source of help for providing representation for minors or adults under legal disability in most courts and in trust situations
Sarah Carter's Lawlinks
One of the best legal portals in the UK, has recently been restructured (and given a new web address). Sarah is legal librarian at the University of Kent, and the site reflects her wide knowledge of legal sources and her particular expertise in legal sources on the web
Solicitors Family Law Association
This is now called Resolution states "Resolution is an organisation of 5,000 lawyers and family justice professionals who believe in a constructive, non confrontational approach to family law matters. Resolution also seeks to improve the family justice system. We provide education and training for lawyers and mediators to improve their knowledge of the law and their understanding of the emotional and practical issues of family breakdown. Resolution encourages the use of other dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and collaborative law, where appropriate.
The Law Commission
This is an excellent source of information for proposed changes in the law for the future. ACAL is often consulted for their views. We are mentioned in the paper on Limitation - see the legal materials page.
The Law Society
A good start for Lawyers with many links to other sites - recently had an image overhaul - access back copies of the Gazette
Victim Support
Victim Support is committed to providing people affected by crime with appropriate and sufficient recognition, support and information to help them deal with their experience, and to ensuring that their rights are acknowledged and advanced in all aspects of criminal justice and social policy.
YAWS
YAWS stands for "Yet another Woolf site" and is a free downloadable version of the Civil Procedure Rules. It is absolutely brilliant and much better than the Lord Chancellors department. There are frames with indexes, recent cases, a searchable index, and an automatic updating service, which you can subscribe to so that one can be reminded each time there is an update. The rules change so much that it is invaluable, and worth paying attention to. The site is run by Roger Horne, a barrister from London. Thank you Roger.
