Access to Public Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education and community care, with an office listed in Lancaster.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
A care package has been cut, delayed or refused
This is often a community care or public law problem. Free legal advice and, in some cases, legal aid may be available.
What to do first
- Ask the council or NHS body for the decision in writing, including the assessment and any charging decision.
- You may also have a right to an independent advocate, especially if you would find it hard to be involved in the assessment or review without support. See the advocacy pathway.
- Specialist community care solicitors and law centres can advise on assessments, reductions, delays and charging. Some hold Legal Aid Agency community care or public law contracts.
- Disability Law Service offers a community care helpline, with limited hours — check its website before you call.
- Deadlines can be tight if a formal complaint or legal challenge is needed. Get advice promptly.
This is information, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines change. Confirm with an adviser and official sources before you act.
Listings that may help
Advocacy Support Cymru
Free
Welsh charity providing independent, confidential advocacy, including statutory mental health and mental capacity advocacy. Confirm the service in your area on the website.
Independent advocacy
Barcan and Kirby LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in Bristol with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Bindmans LLP
Legal aid
London law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 484856.
Community care and discrimination
Blackett Hart and Pratt LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in the North East with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Bristol Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre providing free legal advice in Bristol and beyond, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for discrimination and public law.
Community care and discrimination
Central England Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre with offices in Coventry and Birmingham, holding Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, community care, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Citizens Advice Gateshead
FreeLegal aid
Citizens Advice service in the North East with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination, as well as general free advice.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
CJCH Solicitors
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in Wales with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Cloverleaf Advocacy
Free
Independent advocacy charity providing free, confidential advocacy for adults and carers in contracted areas of Yorkshire and nearby. Confirm your area on the website.
Independent advocacy
Coram Children's Legal Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit legal centre part of the Coram group, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, including work for children and young people.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Deighton Pierce Glynn
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with a Legal Aid Agency public law contract and offices listed in London and Bristol, listed on the SRA register as organisation 552088. In the November 2026 Legal Aid Agency directory the contract recorded for this firm is public law only.
Community care and discrimination
Disability Law Service
FreeLegal aid
Charity providing free legal advice for disabled people and carers on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits. It also has a legal aid service for some cases.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law at offices across England and Wales, listed on the SRA register as organisation 309586.
Community care and discrimination
Equality Advisory and Support Service
Free
Free service providing advice on discrimination and human rights issues in England, Scotland and Wales. It can help you understand your rights and next steps; it is not a solicitor firm.
Community care and discrimination
Gold Jennings
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Greater Manchester Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit law centre offering legal advice in Greater Manchester, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Hodge Jones and Allen LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for discrimination and public law.
Community care and discrimination
Irwin Mitchell LLP
Legal aid
National law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education (including work that can cover SEND), community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 570654. Legal aid is means- and merits-tested.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Julie Burton Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in North Wales with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Citizens Advice and law centre serving Kirklees, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Lawstop
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in London, Brighton, Cambridge and Nottingham.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Legal Services Agency
Free
Scottish legal charity based in Glasgow. Its Disability and Social Justice Project helps disabled people with legal issues, including disability discrimination and related social welfare matters.
Community care and discrimination · Benefits advice and welfare rights
Leigh Day
Legal aid
Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care, discrimination and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 67679.
Community care and discrimination
Mackintosh Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
NYAS
Free
National Youth Advocacy Service, providing advocacy for children and young people, including care-experienced young people, in areas where it holds a contract. Use their advocacy search to check your area.
Independent advocacy
POhWER
Free
Independent charity providing free advocacy, information and advice in many parts of England, including statutory advocacy such as IMHA, IMCA, Care Act and NHS complaints advocacy. Check whether they hold the contract in your local area.
Independent advocacy
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law, listed on the SRA register as organisation 667458.
Community care and discrimination
Simpson Millar LLP
Legal aid
Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 424940.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Sinclairslaw
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in Cardiff and London.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Southwark Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre in South London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in the North West with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and discrimination.
Community care and discrimination
T V Edwards LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law.
Community care and discrimination
The Advocacy People
Free
Independent advocacy charity. Check the website for the services and areas they currently cover, as advocacy contracts change.
Independent advocacy
The Advocacy Project
Free
Independent advocacy organisation working in parts of London. Confirm current services and borough coverage on the website.
Independent advocacy
VoiceAbility
Free
Independent charity and one of the UK's larger advocacy providers, with services in many parts of England and some areas of Scotland. Use the area checker on their website; if they do not cover your area, they signpost to the local provider.
Independent advocacy