SIAA often talk about independent advocacy and advice being mutually supportive, but distinct avenues of assistance that provide different levels of support to people. It is important that advocacy partners and groups can be supported to access advice when they require it, we are therefore flagging the opening of a new legal advice line that may be useful for members to be aware of.
The Scottish Just Law Centre (SJLC) is launching a new free, confidential second-tier discrimination legal advice line for advisers or other frontline workers (for example, independent advocates) working directly with members of the public who have one or more Equality Act “protected characteristic”, such as disability, gender reassignment or race who believe that a public body or public service provider has treated a service user less favourably than comparable people because of their protected characteristic.
SJLC will be running the free, confidential legal advice line on Thursdays between 2pm and 4pm on 0141 406 5353 – launching on Thursday 30 September 2021.
Partners of SJLC, JustRight Scotland also run legal helplines for Scottish Women’s Rights Centre, which supports women aged 16 and over who have been affected by violence and abuse in Scotland You can contact the helpline on 08088 010 789. Full details of opening times are available on their website.
Finally, a Second-tier Immigration and Asylum Advice Line which provides free, confidential advice for advisers or professionals working in Scotland. The advice line runs on Wednesdays between 2pm and 4pm on 0141 406 5353.
