Street Legal

Street Legal

Street Legal is an innovative partnership between Clan Childlaw and Rock Trust. Combining the expertise of both organisations, the project provides free legal advice and representation to young people aged 16 - 25 who are either experiencing, or at risk of homelessness in Edinburgh.

This is a pilot project for three years, and was devised in response to a recognition by Clan Childlaw that young people we were working with were struggling to have their housing rights recognised and were becoming homeless or staying in precarious accommodation as a result. The Street Legal project was born, and demonstrates the innovative combination of Clan Childlaw's legal expertise and Rock Trust's ability to engage with vulnerable, homeless young people, and young people who may be at risk of homelessness or not having their housing rights recognised.

We provide both direct advice and representation to young clients. We provide specialist legal training, support and guidance to colleagues from other agencies with a focus on the legal rights of young people within the housing system and how they can be recognised and enforced.

Ways in which we can help

If you are young person aged 16-25 and you are homeless or facing homelessness, we can provide legal advice and representation if needed.

For example:

You are facing eviction from your tenancy
You have been evicted from your accommodation and are sofa surfing (staying with friends or family on a temporary basis) or you are sleeping rough
You are a care leaver and want to access Continuing Care or After Care but there is a problem with this
If you have any questions about your housing or accommodation rights.

If you are supporting a young person in the above situation, we can provide you with legal advice to assist with your advocacy for them.
We provide training on the housing rights of young people to those who are working with them. This means that workers are trained to recognize when there may be a legal issue that needs addressing, and contact us for advice when needed.

Get in touch

If you would like help, advice or training from Street Legal, or would like more information about the project, please contact Rachel Farrier (Project Coordinator) on 07484 529627, [email protected] or call 0808 1290522.

Latest

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Clan Childlaw is recruiting a Projects Manager. The application deadline is June 30.
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Clan Childlaw welcomes Minister for Children and Young People's announcement of plans to improve the law for brothers and sisters in the care system

Clan Childlaw has welcomed Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd MSP's announcement of plans to strengthen law for siblings in care system at a conference in Glasgow today.

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What we do
Law student essay competition

To mark our 10-year anniversary, we asked law students around Scotland: What is the biggest children’s rights issue in Scotland and how can the law be used to resolve it? Congratulations to winner Michael Malvenda!
Workshop: Sibling contact

Learn more about how you can facilitate sibling contact for looked after children.
Child law case summaries

Summaries of cases undertaken by Clan Childlaw.
Our Training

Our specialist training ensures you have a good working knowledge of Scottish child law in action, providing essential understanding to help you achieve positive outcomes for your clients.
Alison Reid

Principal Solicitor and Chief Executive
Get legal help for a child or young person

Information for professionals, support, advocacy, and advice workers or foster carers seeking help with the law or a legal problem for a child or young person they are working with. You will find frequently asked questions, case studies and other information on this page.
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Events & Fundraising marking our 10th anniversary
Sibling contact

The law as it currently stands does not allow children and young people to easily address sibling separation and contact, especially care experienced children and young people. We are calling for the law to be changed to prioritise sibling relationships.
A-Z resource library

Comprehensive library of material relating to children and young people's rights. This is reference point for all legal questions and problems children and young people might have.