The Defence Police Federation Website

LEGAL SERVICES

Protecting your interests
Having access to the law through the Federation makes a real difference. Without it you would have to either rely on the rapidly dwindling legal aid service, pay for legal services from your own pocket, or find a lawyer who will deal with your problem on a "no win, no fees" basis.

Naturally the DPF's legal assistance scheme can help if you have an accident or other problem at work. But legal assistance beyond the workplace is equally important.

That's why, if you or a member of your family, suffers personal injury following an accident on the road whether as a driver, passenger or cyclist, you can turn to the DPF for help. and we can help in other ways.

The DPF's legal services can help with moving house, making a will, plus a variety of other issues of importance to the family.

So make the most of your DPF membership by making the most of the DPF's legal services:

Legal assistance if you are injured at work
Legal assistance if you suffer from a work-related disease
Legal assistance (where necessary) on employment and disciplinary matters
Legal assistance for you and your family for road traffic injuries
A special wills service
Low-cost conveyancing
Free initial legal advice

The DPF's legal assistance scheme is a partnership with Thompson's solicitors, the largest specialist personal injury and trade union practice in the UK with 15 offices and over 800 staff.

Industrial injuries and disease - Apply on-line
With the DPF's legal scheme, we can take effective action to obtain compensation if you are injured at work or suffer a work-related illness. DPF has access to expert advice on emerging health and safety at work issues such as passive smoking, stress and new European regulations.

Employment disputes
The complexity of employment law means that you need experienced federation officials, who can call on specialist legal advice if necessary, to represent you when disciplinary allegations have been made or your employment rights need to be upheld.

Protecting your interests outside the workplace.

Accidents on the road
As a DPF member you and members of your family are entitled to legal assistance in the event of any accident on the roads involving personal injury, and it needn't cost you a penny. The scheme applies whether you're a pedestrian, cyclist, passenger or driver and it covers your partner and children as well. This scheme will help you and your family obtain proper compensation promptly and minimise the disruption and financial loss that go with road traffic acciddent injuries.

Free legal advice

N.B. In Scotland Hughes Dowdall are used as representatives in discipline matters & Thompsons for employment related matters.

With a legal problem it can be difficult to know whether to pursue it or not. We can help with any matter, including accidents in the home, in the street or whilst shopping, by providing our initial advice free of charge. At best this will solve the problem at worst it will help clarify what steps you should take next. Whatever the non-employment related problem, free initial advice can help put your mind at rest.

Simply fill in the free legal advice form available from your branch and post it off to:

Thompsons have set up a website setting out a full directory of legal services avaliable to DPF members in Scotland. It can be found at: www.dpfscotlandlaw.co.uk.

Notes for Members
This scheme is an advice service and the solicitors advice will normally be given by telephone. An interview with a solicitor is possible if this is considered necessary. To ensure that the advice you receive is as helpful as possible, please give as much information as you can. In property cases it may be useful to include sketches or diagrams.

Where a lease or tenancy in involved please send copies of any lease or tenancy agreement with your application for advice. This scheme will not usually be available to you if you have already taken advice from other solicitors on the same matter.

Your enquiry will be treated as being entirely confidential. If, after receiving initial advice, further action is necessary, costs will be a matter between the member and the solicitor.

Free Will Service - Apply on-line
DPF Legal Services offers a free Will based on our postal Will making questionnaire. Simply fill it in and post it to Thompsons who will prepare your joint or individual Will free of charge. Members in England and Wales should write to:

and in Scotland to:

285 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HQ

Conveyancing - Apply on-line
Conveyancing can be straightforward or extremely complex and no-one knows which category you will fall into until it starts. The DPF conveyancing service is a professional service set at a low fixed fee. This enables you to budget with confidence. In adddition Thompsons can handle everything without the need for you to visit one of their offices.

Simply write to:

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