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the website of

Nik Nicol, barrister


	*WELCOME*

Welcome to my refreshed web-site! Here you will find information about Social Welfare Law and the Legal System in England and Wales.

I cannot provide direct advice by e-mail through this website, with or without any promise of payment. If you are from a solicitors' firm or a law centre and you are interested in instructing me, please contact my clerks at 1 Pump Court.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to improve the site so you'll come back again. You can e-mail me here.

I specialise in Social Welfare Law which is not a distinct area of the law but a collection of those areas which particularly affect those who are disadvantaged by factors such as poverty or discrimination:-

Housing – including homelessness, allocations, anti-social behaviour, possession proceedings and other landlord and tenant problems
Human Rights – as they affect areas of Social Welfare Law
Asylum Support
Public & Administrative Law
Community Care – the law relating to the provision of social services
Social Security – the law relating to the provision of welfare benefits
Fuel Rights – the law relating to domestic consumers of gas and electricity

For Students and Non-Lawyers

This website is often visited by students and by lawyers in other countries who want to find out more about the English legal system, in English y en español.

The Legal Disclaimer

The information and any commentary on the law contained on this web-site is provided free of charge for information only. Every reasonable effort is made to make the information and commentary accurate and up-to-date but it is not intended to amount to legal advice to any person on a specific case or matter. You are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice from a lawyer about your case or matter and not to rely solely on the information or comments on this site.


	NEWS


	This website contains occasional news items from areas of law I deal with. Eg. on the Housing page, you can find out the latest on Specialist Support Contracts, including 1 Pump Court’s Housing Helpline, and some of the most recent important cases I have been involved with.


		SHELTER STRIKE

	The staff of Shelter, the campaign for homeless people, have gone on strike this March for the first time ever. Here are the views of the staff’s Union and of management. Make up your own mind and use the details on the Union leaflet if you want to express your support.

		DR KEEN & NOWMEDICAL

	Anyone working for some time in homelessness will be aware of Dr Keen and his firm, NowMedical. I have a web-page for information about them. Contributions are welcome.


		ABOUT ME

	I am a barrister practising in England & Wales from chambers at 1 Pump Court.


		SKEPTICISM

	As a lawyer, I find that a sceptical approach to life (not a cynical one) helps in many ways. The areas of law I deal with are also reflected in what I’m interested in outside the law.