Prospect LegalLine is open for business

LegalLine is our telephone hotline offering high quality legal advice on almost any problem except employment law.

The helpline is provided by Prospect solicitors Slater & Gordon Lawyers, formerly Russell Jones and Walker, from their advice centre in Manchester. Trained legal advisers, backed up by solicitors, can advise on consumer problems, debt, small claims proceedings, welfare benefits, housing and property disputes, matrimonial issues, defamation and crime. The helpline's team of nine advisers already deal with 700 calls a month and are available round the clock.

Calls are treated on their merits and are not subject to a time limit. Advice is only given by phone, though documents can be faxed, posted or e-mailed to LegalLine for them to check.

Solicitors' advice can be taken as required, but if the matter needs to be dealt with by a solicitor the helpline may refer callers to a Slater & Gordon lawyer. All members of the legal advice team hold a law degree and receive specialist training for helpline work and to keep up to date with new legislation.

Any employment law problems will be referred to the union. Other areas the team will not advise on include membership services, business or commercial matters, professional indemnity issues and foreign law.

All employed and retired members can access the line, including spouses, partners, financially dependant children and adult handicapped children.

LegalLine is available to members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; Slater & Gordon Lawyers is working to extend it to the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man.

Members - log in to find out how to access LegalLine.