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Alternative Sources of Help

Home Services Employment law Alternative Sources of Help

There are three different levels of advice services: 

Tier One: advice and information 

Tier Two: casework (e.g. helping you resolve a dispute at work, writing letters and making telephone calls) 

Tier Three: Employment Tribunal representation 

Generally the earlier you are in your case, you may only need a Tier One or maybe Tier Two provider. The later you are in your case, such as having lodged a Tribunal claim, you’ll need a Tier Three provider. 

It may not be strictly accurate, but we have given an indication of the Tier an advice agency falls in to help you understand what organisations might be able to best assist you.  

GOV.UK 

Tier One 

The government’s general information service. 

www.gov.uk 

 

ACAS 

Tier Two only 

A statutory body, who help employees and employers resolve work place disputes.  

ACAS officers aren’t there to give you impartial advice you in your best interest – their mandate is to get cases settled.  

0300 123 1100 

Local CAB 

Tier One and Tier Two 

General employment law advice.  

020 3855 5234 

towerhamlets@eastendcab.org.uk 

Citizens Advice Tower Hamlets 
32 Greatorex Street 
London 
E1 5NP 

National CAB phone service (England) 

Tier One 

 

General employment law advice. 

Telephone advice: 03444 111 444 

Law Centre’s  

Tier One, Two and Three 

Specialist employment and discrimination advice, casework and representation.  

There are many individual Law Centre’s across the country and many are no longer constrained to helping only those clients that live/work in their borough.  

https://www.lawcentres.org.uk/list-of-law-centres 

 

The RCJ Citizens Advice’s specialist Employment Advice Service 

Tier Three 

Specialist employment and discrimination law advice, casework and representation. 

https://www.rcjadvice.org.uk/housing/employment-law-advice-service/  

The Free Representation Unit 

Tier Three 

 

Representation in the Employment Tribunal. We are now able to refer clients to FRU but we only do this where we have already accepted a client under one of our services and assessed a case is reasonably arguable. We do not act as a “post box” for referrals. You may get another organisation to refer you and/or there are some circumstances in which you can refer yourself.  

https://www.thefru.org.uk/can-fru-help-you  

Advocate 

Tier Three 

 

Free representation before the Employment Tribunal. 

https://weareadvocate.org.uk/apply-for-help/how-our-service-works.html  

BPP’s Employment Law Telephone Advice Line (ELTAL) 

Tier One 

One-off advice on employment law. 

Telephone advice: 0207 633 4534 

Email advice: elfhelp@my.bpp.com http://probono.bppuniversity.ac.uk/blog/projects/employment-law-telephone-advice-line-eltal/    

University of Greenwich’s Legal Advice Centre 

Tier One 

One-off employment advice. 

https://www.lawworks.org.uk/legal-advice/individuals/university-greenwich-legal-advice-centre  

Free Legal Answers  

(a LawWorks project) 

Tier One 

One-off legal advice on family, debt, consumer, housing and employment. 

https://freelegalanswers.org.uk/  

Protect 

Tier One and Two 

Niche advice and some casework/representation on whistleblowing. 

https://protect-advice.org.uk/ 

 

Rights of Women 

Tier One 

Niche advice on issues affecting women, such as sexual harassment. 

https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/ 

Telephone advice: 020 7490 0152 

Working Families 

Tier One 

Niche advice on issues affecting young families, such as making flexible working requests. 

https://workingfamilies.org.uk/ 

Email advice: https://workingfamilies.org.uk/contact-us-for-advice/  

Maternity Action 

Tier One 

 

Niche advice on issues facing pregnant women and new mothers. 

https://maternityaction.org.uk/ 

Telephone advice: 0808 802 0029 

Email advice: https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice-form/  

Pregnant Then Screwed 

Tier One 

 

Niche advice on issues facing pregnant women and new mothers. 

https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/ 

Email advice service: https://pregnantthenscrewed.beaconforms.com/form/0eb5dc8e 

Civil Legal Advice 

Tier One, Two and Three 

Legal aid contracts awarded by the Government to independent and impartial advice providers (such as traditional law firms and Law Centres). Only available in discrimination law matters for those how have income and savings below the applicable thresholds.  

Check your eligibility: www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice   

Find a discrimination law legal aid provider: https://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk/  

Providers in East London include:  

 

 

Equality Advisory Support Service 

Help and advice on discrimination and human rights  

Tier One 

 

Provide telephone advice on discrimination law.  

www.equalityadvisoryservice.com 

Telephone advice: 0808 800 0082 

Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) 

Tier One, Two and Three 

A statutory body that gives advice and information on discrimination and human rights law. They also provide specialist representation in litigation in a limited scope of cases.  

Information about discrimination law: www.equalityhumanrights.com