Phone 0117 924 8662, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm
Family Law Clinic
We run a free clinic for people who need advice and are experiencing financial hardship. We offer one-off advice appointments by phone for family matters, with the support of lawyers volunteering their time. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer ongoing casework or representation.
Our volunteers can advise on most family law issues including:
- divorce & separation
- parental responsibility
- child arrangements
- some financial issues after separation
If you need advice on the following, please contact a solicitors firm:
- care proceedings
- child abduction
- wills & probate
What we do
We will offer you a half hour telephone appointment with a qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive.
We will take your details and carry out a conflict of interest check with the firm that will be advising. This is done to make sure that they are not representing any other parties involved in your dispute.
Following the appointment, we will provide you with a written summary of the advice/guidance given. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer ongoing casework or representation.
What we’ll need from you
You will be asked to provide a summary of your legal issue and key documents such as court orders.
Support Through Court
Support Through Court are based in the Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre.
Whilst their volunteers cannot provide legal advice, they can help with the following:
- Explain how the court works, help fill in forms, organise papers, and discuss settling issues without going to court
- Help plan what you want to say in court, and if needed, go with you to court to provide support and help afterwards
- Provide details of other specialist advice agencies, where possible, and help you find out whether you can get free legal advice
Advice Now
Advice Now have guides that explain how to go through various court proceedings or overcome legal problems without a lawyer.
They also offer reduced, fixed-fee legal advice through a panel of family law solicitors.
Legal Aid
Legal aid is still available for some family law issues so that you can get free advice or representation. Check if you are eligible here.
Other advice & information
Advocate is a charity that finds free legal assistance from volunteer barristers
Child Law Advice provide information on a range of family law issues
Family Court Info is an independently run website with lots of relevant information
Resolution is a membership of lawyers who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way
Rights of Women run a national advice line for family law issues
UWE Family Law Clinic provides advice with the help of law students
University of Law post-graduate students offer an email advice service
If you have a family law issue where someone is in immediate danger please contact a law firm, police or other agency urgently.
Search for other advice
If we can’t help you, try the search buttons below to find someone who can. For example, we’re unable to advise on criminal issues, actions against the police, civil litigation, personal injury, wills/probate.
You might also like
PIP Appeals
Legal advice & representation for PIP (Personal Independence Payment) appeals: first tier tribunals
MoreHousing
Legal advice if your home is at risk, you are homeless, or your home is in poor condition & affecting your health
MoreVolunteer – pro bono
We have an outstanding reputation for pro bono work and have offered these services for over 30 years.
More