Local lawyers

There are certain problems that our CAB staff are not trained to help with, such as criminal cases, divorce or consumer problems. Also in certain cases the CAB will feel that a lawyer's extensive training can be an important safeguard for our clients - in housing and immigration cases for example.

Both Walthamstow and Leytonstone CABx have franchises from the Legal Services Commission to carry out work in the areas of Welfare Benefits and Immigration but there will be times when a lawyer should be approached. Also at Walthamstow there is an Employment lawyer who is credited to the Legal Services Commission Specialist Quality Mark.

If you do need a lawyer, then the following are able to offer help under the Legal Aid scheme:

•  Community Legal Service Quality Mark (Legal Aid) national directory of approved solicitors
•  Local Housing Law specialists
•  Local Immigration Law specialists and other franchised bodies

The Waltham Forest Community Legal Service Partnership: this is a network of local organisations including the Local Authority that act to see that the local legal aid and advice provision is effective.