Advice Agencies in Southwark
Advice centres are places where you can get advice, information and guidance on your legal rights, entitlements and responsibilities. Some of these have drop-in sessions and/or telephone advice lines; others provide specialist legal services, and can only take on cases by referral from other agencies.
All the advice agencies in the Southwark Legal Advice Network (SLAN) have been accredited with the CLS Quality Mark, which means that they meet the quality standards set by the Legal Services Commission.
Generalist Advice Centres in Southwark Offering Free Drop-in Advice
Generalist advice providers can provide information, advice and help to resolve your basic problems. These agencies offer free drop-in sessions, for which no appointment is necessary. Typically, these advice centres will:
- diagnose your problem;
- explain the options available to you;
- help you identify further action you can take;
- give you basic assistance;
- fill in forms and draft letters; and
- contact other organisations for further information if necessary.
Some general-help organisations can also offer casework. This means:
- they can take action on your behalf;
- they can put your case to someone else to persuade them to decide in your favour;
- they can negotiate by telephone, letter, or face to face; and
- they may provide advocacy services. This means speaking for you at formal proceedings, for example at some tribunals.
Please note that these organisations can only represent you at some tribunals. You cannot get legal aid at this level, and you may have to pay some costs. Speak to your adviser to find out more.
Blackfriars Advice Centre
Cambridge House, 131 Camberwell Road, London SE5 0HF. Areas of advice: housing, debt, welfare benefits, employment, goods & services. Drop-in session: Mon-Thu: 10am-12pm. Advice line 020 7358 7035: Mon, Tue & Thu 2pm-4pm.Bermondsey Citizens Advice Bureau
8 Market Place, Southwark Park Road, London SE16 3UQ. General advice on consumer issues, employment, housing, debt, health, education, community care & family. Specialist advice in immigration and welfare benefits. Drop-in service: Tue & Thu 10am - 1pm. Advice Line 0844 499 4134: Mon 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Tues 4.30pm - 6.30pm, Wed 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Thu 11.00am - 1.00pm.Peckham Citizens Advice Bureau
97 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5RS. General advice on consumer issues, employment, housing, debt, health, education, community care & family. Specialist advice in immigration and welfare benefits. Drop-in service: Mon, Wed & Fri 10am - 1pm. Advice Line 0844 499 4134: Mon 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Tues 4.30pm - 6.30pm, Wed 1.30pm - 3.30pm, Thu 11.00am - 1.00pm.Multi-Lingual Community Rights Shop
213 Camberwell Road, London SE5 0HG. General advice for people whose first language is not English. Drop-in service: Mon, 10am-12noon (Spanish); Fri: 10am-12noon (Cantonese, Mandarin & Fujianese) Advice line 020 7703 4442: Mon, 10am-11am (Spanish); Tue, 10am-11am (Spanish & Portuguese); Fri, 10am-11am (Spanish), 2pm-3pm (Cantonese, Mandarin & Fujianese).Southwark Refugee Project
161 Sumner Road, Peckham, London SE15 6JL. General advice and information for refugees and asylum seekers, including housing, employment, welfare benefits, education & training. Drop-in sessions: Mon & Wed, 10am-12 noon & 2pm-4pm.Afro Asian Advisory Service
53 Addington Square, London SE5 7LB. Areas of advice: immigration and nationality law, including asylum and refugee law. Advice line: 0845 618 5385, Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm.Legal Advice Centres in Southwark Offering Specialist Advice
You should use a specialist help provider when you want someone to advise you on a complex legal problem and carry out the full range of legal services, including representation. Legal aid helps people who cannot afford representation, as long as they meet certain conditions. Specialist help providers are typically solicitors and law centres, and can offer the following services:
- offer advice and legal help on complex matters in specific areas of law; and
- represent you in court, where this is permitted.