CDS News

We have recently written to organisations that regularly order the Community Legal Advice leaflets to tell them about some changes to our service.

The letter explains that from April 2011 we expect the content on our Community Legal Advice website to be integrated with information on Directgov.

The CLA website will then close but we expect to keep the web address for some time with visitors being automatically redirected to Directgov.

Easier

This change is part of a wider Government project to make it easier for the public to navigate services and access information and help.

As part of this project, we have reviewed the material we provide. We have decided to discontinue our series of 18 printed CLA leaflets and replace them with one ‘call to action’ leaflet which will direct clients to the CLA helpline.

This will be available in English, Welsh and Braille and can be ordered by emailing orderleaflets@communitylegaladvice.org.uk. The product codes are:

• English: CLAPSB030E
• Welsh: CLAPSB031W

Alternative

The idea of the leaflet is to complement provider services. It offers an alternative source of help if clients require advice in another language or a specific area of law they are unable to help with. 

British Sign Language (BSL) users will continue to be able to access legal advice via webcam through the CLA helpline service on 0845 345 4 345.

However, the BSL videos based on the 18 discontinued leaflets will close once the move to Directgov is complete.

Still available

The series of Legal Services Commission leaflets including, ‘A step by step guide to legal aid’ and ‘Paying for your legal aid’ are currently unaffected and still available to order.

Further information

Joanne.white@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk