ST JAMES LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE CIO – CLIENT CARE STATEMENT
Thank you for choosing St James Legal Advice Centre. This document provides a comprehensive overview of our services and operations across all three of our clinics. Please review it carefully before consulting with one of our advisers. We will ask you to sign a form to confirm that you have read and agree to comply with the contents of this document.
St James Legal Advice Centre Runs Three Clinics
Saturday Clinic- St James’ Church, Muswell Hill, London (9:30 AM - 12 PM).
Tuesday Clinic- Wilton Community Church, Wilton Road, Muswell Hill, London N10 1LT (10 AM – 12 PM).
Wednesday Clinic- The Salvation Army Centre, Wood Green, 24 Lymington Avenue, Wood Green, London N22 6JA (1 PM - 3 PM).
Who We Can Advise
We operate a means testing policy. Generally, we cannot provide advice to individuals who:
Have a household income exceeding £40,000 per annum.
Possess liquid assets (e.g., cash savings in a bank account) over £20,000.
By seeking our advice and signing the registration form, you confirm that you meet the criteria of our means testing policy. If you believe you do not qualify for advice based on this means test, please speak to our reception team.
The Service We Provide
St. James Legal Advice Centre provides legal advice to those who cannot afford it and is entirely operated by volunteers, including our advisers, assistants, and support staff. We ask that you be respectful and polite to all our volunteers.
We provide general legal advice, in many areas such as housing, welfare, and employment. If we lack expertise in your area of concern, we may direct you to other resources for assistance.We cannot provide advice in the following areas:
Immigration law
Consumer credit advice
Debt advice
Our legal services are limited to advice and support; we cannot:
Represent clients in courts or tribunals.
Conduct litigation. We can, however, provide advice on managing court actions independently.
Prepare specific legal documents, including those for property transfers, court proceedings.
Conduct any probate activities.
Act as notaries and administer oaths.
How We Operate
The Tuesday and Wednesday clinics may be able to receive letters related to your matter; however, please be aware of potential delays in processing due to our part-time operation. For urgent matters, ensure that you ask any letters to be sent to your personal address.
Advisers at all three clinics, including Saturday, may assist in drafting a letter during your session, which you can then send on your own.
Original documents will be returned after photocopying or scanning, if necessary.
Session Limitations: Each advice session is typically limited to 15 minutes, and we can address only one legal issue per visit. If you have multiple issues, you may need to visit more than once; for instance, returning the following week to discuss additional matters.
What Happens at Our Clinics:
Upon arrival, you will need to provide details about yourself and your case, which will be entered into our case management system. You will also be asked to fill out a diversity form for data collection purposes, but this is optional.
If we have previously advised someone on the same matter, we must decline your case to avoid conflicts of interest. An adviser will review your case, offer legal advice, and suggest next steps. Please inform us of any deadlines, as it is your responsibility to comply with legal time limits.
If we need to contact others or handle correspondence related to your case, you must provide written authorization. Please only email us if directed by an adviser, as our email is not regularly monitored.
If additional information or documents are needed, you may be asked to return with them. If we do not hear from you within three months of your last appointment, your file will be closed.
Fees and Costs
If you initiate court proceedings, you will be responsible for all related court fees. Litigation may incur additional costs, including liabilities for both your own and the opposing party's expenses. Please carefully consider these financial risks before proceeding.
Data Protection
For a comprehensive understanding of how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal data, along with your rights related to this data, please consult our Data Privacy Statement.
Feedback and Complaints
St James Legal Advice Centre is dedicated to providing high-quality legal advice and client care, and we are grateful for your feedback. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service please refer to our complaints policy available on our website or from reception.
Limitation of Liability
Our liability from the legal services we provide is limited by our professional indemnity insurance. Claims must be directed against St James Legal Advice Centre as an entity, not against individual staff or volunteers. We do not seek to limit any liability to you or any third party for fraud, or for death or personal injury.