Legal Advice

Community First Legal Helpline

Our Legal Helpline service for Community First members can provide your organisation with access to essential and free legal advice when you need it. The Helpline is being developed in partnership with Hampshire Legal Services (HLS), who are the in-house legal team at Hampshire County Council.

The Legal Helpline can be used to obtain free initial advice (limited to 40 minutes for each discrete issue) but it does not extend to corresponding with third parties. Where an issue can’t be fully resolved by the Helpline, HLS may be able to advise the member as a normal client.  In this case, HLS’s charges will reflect its role as a legal team that exists to support the delivery of public services.

Legal Helpline queries can cover the wide range of issues that HLS addresses in its work, including:

  • Charity structures, governance and data protection
  • Contracts and procurement
  • Premises, planning and the environment
  • Employment and volunteers
  • Disputes, including initial advice on litigation
  • Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults

Please note that there are, however, some legal issues where, due to the nature of its work, HLS would not normally advise (e.g. bequests and tax issues).

For further details or to request support email support@cfirst.org.uk or call 0300 500 8085.

Need some help or advice?

Whether you need to know how to find local support groups or who to turn to for advice, our searchable Help and Support Directory is an easy to use list of Hampshire Community Services.

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