Frequently Asked Questions 

If you can’t find what you need, email queries.aladli@proton.me and we’ll reply within 2 working days.

We’re not a law firm and don’t provide reserved legal services. We offer legal education, practical support, and referrals to regulated advisers where needed. 

About Al‑Adli:

What is Al‑Adli Justice?
A grassroots legal collective and mutual aid network. We build community defence through casework, education and community work.

Do you give legal advice?
We are not a law firm. We provide legal education, templates, and practical support (e.g., drafting timelines and letters with you). Where a matter needs regulated legal advice, we refer to partners who are regulated advisers or solicitors.

Immigration: any immigration advice work is done by caseworkers who are registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) (formerly the OISC).

Housing & employment: support is delivered by caseworkers with relevant prior casework experience (often from organisations such as Citizens Advice), and we signpost/hand over where specialist regulated advice is needed.

We only take on work within our capacity and competence. 

What does “community defence” mean?
Practical care that reduces harm without punishment or surveillance: court support, capacity‑building casework, workshops, guides, language justice and mutual aid.

Getting support

How do I ask for help?
Use our Need support? form. We triage within 72 hours. If it’s urgent, say so and we’ll try to respond sooner.

What happens after I submit the form?
You’ll get an acknowledgment. A volunteer reviews your request, may book a short call, then drafts steps with you. We leave notes you can reuse.

Do you have a hotline?
Yes. We run a local Urgent Support Line and are preparing a wider rollout. More details to follow.

Do you handle immigration / housing / employment / family / criminal issues?
We do education and support across those areas and court support. For regulated advice, we signpost to specialist services.

Do you accompany people to court?
Yes. We run a court‑support rota and are building a pool of McKenzie Friends (lay support). Availability depends on rota capacity.

Casework & capacity

What does “capacity, not independence” mean?
We don’t chase independence as a slogan. We build capacity: understanding the law, naming risks, drafting with you, leaving notes you can reuse or share.

Will you write letters for me?
We draft together. You approve every line. Where safe, you submit, otherwise we help route it.

Can you guarantee an outcome?
No. We promise clean process, clear notes and steady support.

What is a McKenzie Friend?

McKenzie Friends provide lay support, they do not conduct litigation or provide reserved legal activities. 

Workshops, guides and the Language Exchange

Where can I find your guides?
On our Guides & Zines page soon coming, in the meantime get in contact directly for any info. Files are plain language, high‑contrast and translation‑ready.

Do you run workshops?
Yes. Topics include housing, employment, immigration basics, court support and anti‑raids. See Workshops for dates.

What is the Language Exchange?
Neighbours teaching and learning together (English/Arabic and legal literacy). We’re publishing a blueprint so others can start one safely. 

Donations and zakat

How do I donate monthly?
Join at £3/month, or our most popular membership is £9 - Court Buddy on our Donate page. Most people start there. Change/cancel anytime. You DO NOT need membership to receive help. 

Where does my money go?
Case management and printing; design and translation for guides; phones and the hotline; travel funds; Language Exchange costs; mutual aid (food, clothing, urgent bills). We publish anonymised updates every two months to subscribers in our newsletter.

Are donations sadaqah jāriyah?
All non‑zakat gifts are treated as sadaqah jāriyah for casework, education and community work.

How do I give zakat?
Use our ring‑fenced Zakat Fund on Open Collective. Zakat goes to eligible people only: food, clothing, essential travel, urgent debts. Records are light: category, date, amount. No case details.

Can zakat pay for staff or rent?
No. We pay people directly or a named creditor, not overhead.

Will I get a receipt?
Yes. Email receipt immediately. Zakat receipts show category and amount.

Who processes payments?
Open Collective is our fiscal host; payments are processed by Stripe. We never see full card details.

Are gifts tax‑deductible?
Generally no.

Volunteering

How do I join the team?
Start on Join our team. The form takes 8–10 minutes. We reply within 10 working days.

Do I need legal training?
Not necessarily. We value clear writing, calm notes and good judgement. Training provided where necessary - accreditation can be paid for where funds allow..

Are expenses covered?
Local travel for rota shifts is covered. Ask about childcare or tech support.

Safety, privacy and data

What data do you collect?
We collect the minimum. Public forms ask for email and basics to help you. We do not collect immigration, medical or case details unless necessary for safeguarding.

How do you use my information?
To deliver support and keep records clean. We never sell or share your data. We publish only anonymised examples.

What should I avoid sending you?
No addresses in public channels; no live‑case details; no immigration or medical files unless we request them securely.

Media and partnerships

Can we host a workshop or invite a speaker?
Yes. Email details (topic, date, access needs). We prioritise capacity‑building sessions.

Do you partner with other groups?
Yes. We favour movement spaces aligned with care over punishment and community over surveillance.

Accessibility

How do you make resources accessible?
Plain‑language writing, high‑contrast files, alt text and captions. Tell us access needs and we adapt.

Contact

Couldn’t find your answer?
Email aladliprobono@proton.me  For press, email with PRESS in the subject. For safeguarding, email with SAFEGUARD in the subject.