Finding a local lawyer
If you want to use the complaints process – for a precedent complaints letter – click here.
The Citizens Advice Bureau has general advice on the making of complaints about a local council’s involvement with your family and this can be accessed by clicking here for England and clicking here for Wales.
If you need legal advice it is best to rely on personal recommendations in this field – but details of all the firms who have a legal aid contract can be found at legaladviserfinder.justice.gov.uk (then enter your address / postcode and click the box ‘Categories of law’ and then chose the one of most relevance).
The barrister Steve Broach has provided a list of solicitors with expertise in disability and Special Educational Needs cases and this can be accessed by clicking here.
In reality it is often quickest to Google “community care” + “solicitors” and then add the name of the town / area where this support would ideally be found. In addition however:
- Cerebra has a guide concerning Finding and Assessing Sources of Legal Help: A Guide for Parents.
- The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has an advice note concerning legal support which can be accessed by clicking here; and
- The Law Society has a ‘Find a Solicitor’ on-line facility which can be accessed by clicking here.
Volunteer barristers: Advocate is a charity that finds free legal assistance from volunteer barristers and can help in a range of cases, for example by helping families and partners to source a Court of Protection Bar Association volunteer barrister. For details of the scheme click here.