Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS) is a limited company and registered charity, Company Registration No 3524607 and Charity No 1069066 originally established in 1980.

The purpose is to identify unmet legal need in Norfolk and to work with partner agencies to provide free services to meet that need. They aim to provide access to justice and equality and particularly target the services at disadvantaged & vulnerable groups e.g. offenders, migrant workers and people with mental health issues.

Services
The current services include –

• twice weekly free legal advice drop in service in the Norwich office -employment, family & general advice; also similar services at Cromer and Great Yarmouth
• debt and money advice for offenders and other vulnerable clients
• welfare benefits advice and representation at Tribunal
• advice for victims of domestic abuse
• advice on residency status & entitlement for EEA Nationals as well as support for welfare benefit appeals;
• discrimination advice and representation 
• rent arrears mediation for City Council housing tenants
• family court support for private law child contact matters

NCLS is the lead agency for the Norfolk Community Advice Network (NCAN)

They were founded in 1985 as the Norwich and District Legal Services Committee, with the aim of meeting the legal needs of people in Norfolk. A committee of unpaid volunteers worked towards meeting the gaps in legal service provision.

In March 2005 they changed the name to Norfolk Community Law Service to reflect the commitment to the whole of Norfolk.