The Legal Aid Agency is the body responsible for the administration of legal aid in England and Wales. The Agency gives means-tested financial help for people needing legal advice and administers legal aid for civil and criminal cases. There is guidance on how to apply for legal aid and information for service providers. The site has a list of current tenders and news items.
The First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health) hears applications from people detained as patients in psychiatric hospitals who want to be discharged. The site has guidance on appealing to the tribunal and what happens at hearings. Links to relevant legislation are also given.
Official website of the judiciary of England and Wales providing information on judges, magistrates and tribunal members and including reports, judgements and key facts. There is information describing the various types of judges and their role, functions and jurisdiction, court dress and forms of address. Key facts are provided including statistics, a legal calendar, an organisation chart of the court hierarchy, a glossary of legal terms and biographies of senior judges. The Learning Resources section has quizzes, historical information and webcasts.
Website of the Law Society, the body responsible for supporting and representing solicitors in England and Wales. The site provides information about the the organisation and activities of the Law Society, including details of work in the areas of law reform, parliamentary activity and responses to proposed changes in the law. It also provides a copy of the Law Society's Royal Charter, details of products and services for solicitors and further information about practice support, continuing professional development and dealing with complaints.
Website of the Revenue Bar Association (RBA) whose membership is drawn from English barristers who practise in the taxation field. The site provides a directory of members which can be browsed online. There are also contact details and links to the websites of tax chambers and chambers with tax specialists. The site provides information on various schemes enabling people to use the services of RBA members including details of fees and participating barristers.
The Sentencing Council website provides information on the work of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales. This body "promotes greater consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary". There is information on sentencing guidelines, the Sentencing Code and how sentencing works. There is also guidance on going to court and the sentences handed down for common offences.
Website of the Ecclesiastical Law Society (ELS), an organisation established in 1987 to promote the study of ecclesiastical and canon law. The site outlines the aims of the Society and gives details of its events and publications, including the Ecclesiastical Law Journal. The book, 'The Principles of Canon Law Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion' can be downloaded in pdf format, free of charge. To accompany the book, the site provides a bibliography, details of selected cases and links to Church resolutions and other official documents.
Website of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for England and Wales an independent tribunal which hears appeals brought by motorists who have been issued with parking penalties. The site provides information on the adjudication process and the steps involved in challenging a Penalty Charge Notice and the removal or clamping of a vehicle. There are examples of Adjudicators' decisions in appeals grouped by parking regulation. These are intended to show the sort of appeals that are likely to be successful. The site also has links to relevant legislation and a glossary of terms.
The Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) which was set up under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Schools Adjudicators make decisions relating to school organisation issues and admission arrangements in cases that cannot be resolved locally. The website provides access to the decisions of the OSA. If these decisions have been subject to judicial review these proceedings are also included online. There are profiles of the Schools Adjudicators, guidance to the process and copies of the relevant legislation that is linked to on the site.
