About our service
How We Provide Our Service
The following information outlines how we see clients:
- We are open each Tuesday between 8pm to 9pm (see here for the dates we are closed)
- It is not necessary to telephone ahead or make an appointment
- Clients are normally seen in order of arrival
- We aim to see a client for between 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the problem and the number of other client's waiting
- If necessary or appropriate, we will ask clients to come to another session to obtain further advice or assistance
Helping us to help you
Before a client attends, the following are some of the things a client can do to maximise the benefit they will get from an advice session at Richmond Legal Advice Service:
- Bringing all relevant papers (and try to sort them in a logical order)
- If the matter is complex or there are a lot of facts, the client should try to summarise the main points, or the particular issue that legal advice and assistance is required on (as far as it is possible to do so)
- Allow the volunteer adviser to guide and control the interview and decide what the relevant documents are and what information needs to be provided
- complete our client contact form before you attend an advice session (which is available here).
Some limitations
Because of the limited time available it may mean that an adviser cannot give a definitive view on a client’s problem.
If it is legally complex or there are a lot of facts or papers to go through then sometimes all we can do is refer the client on or try to give a “common-sense” answer.
No legal adviser can hope to be an expert or to have detailed knowledge on all areas of law.
Therefore, if the client’s problem concerns an area of law which is outside the experience of the volunteers present on the night a client attends, we may not be able to help, at that session.