How to contact us for advice

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Our advice service

Are you a parent, kinship carer relative or friend of a child who is involved with, or who needs the help of, children’s services in England? We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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By phone or email

To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.

Discuss on our forums

Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.

Advice on our website

Our get help and advice section has template letters, advice sheets and resources about legal and social care processes. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you can use our webchat service to chat online to an adviser.

 

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Lawyer

A generic term for a legal professional who is qualified to practise law.

There are two main types of lawyer in England and Wales:

  • A solicitor can give legal advice and explain what a client’s legal options are. They will meet with clients to provide them with advice. They will do this on an ongoing basis throughout court proceedings. Solicitors will advise their clients during regular meetings, but also via telephone and email. A solicitor will help a client deal with letters and paperwork, including court papers. A solicitor will draft documents, such as statements, on behalf of their clients. These will set out their evidence to the court. They may also represent their clients in court. Most people who need a lawyer, including parents involved in care proceedings, should turn first to a solicitor.
  • A barrister specialises in court work. They will advocate on behalf of their client and client’s solicitor in court. In more complex cases, a solicitor may hire a barrister to appear in court on behalf of the client. The solicitor, barrister and client may also all meet. These meetings are often referred to as ‘conferences’. They can be helpful to discuss the client’s case, and strategy for a hearing and the overall case.
    Lawyers (both solicitors and barristers) tend to specialise in particular areas of the law, for example family law or immigration law.

For more information, including how to find a solicitor who specialises in children law see:

Solicitor.

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