LawWorks for Community Groups

“LawWorks provide an excellent service that must save the voluntary & community sector countless £'000's each year. Long may they continue to do so.”

LawWorks Community Groups applicant, Off Centre, Hackney

LawWorks for Community Groups offers free legal advice and guidance to small charities, not-for-profit, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises in England and Wales in four ways:

1 Free Legal Assistance

LawWorks for Community Groups brokers legal advice for community groups on a wide range of legal areas, including company and charity law, contract, employment, intellectual property, tax and VAT, property, insurance and insolvency. You can find more information here.

2 Free Law Direct 

If you have a quick legal question relating to your organisation, our online advice service might be able to help. Free Law Direct is a web-based project, providing initial advice in response to general legal queries. Visit the Free Law Direct website for more details.

3 Clinics

There are a limited but growing number of legal advice clinics available to community groups and you can find information on these clinics here. Clinics offer the opportunity to seek initial pro bono advice from a solicitor on either a drop in or appointment basis, either face-to-face of over the telephone.

4 Factsheets 

LawWorks for Community Groups factsheets give general information to community groups on specific areas of law, to enable them to spot and avoid potential legal problems. Our factsheets cover a range of topics, including employment, corporate structure and charity law, intellectual property, data protection, tax and property. 

Is your organisation involved in a dispute?

Mediation may be an effective way of resolving your issue. An independent mediator can provide an objective viewpoint and help settle situations to the satisfaction of both parties. Further information on LawWorks' free mediation service is available on the LawWorks Mediation website.

If your issue involves a dispute with the Charity Commission, please read this article for more information on your options.