Accessing support for issues which occurred outside RCN membership
This guide outlines possible alternative sources of support such as Citizens Advice, legal expenses insurance, pro bono (free) services, and national law societies. It also signposts to RCN support for members facing stress, financial hardship, or other challenges following such incidents.
RCN representation
If you’re dealing with a problem at work, your employer may tell you that you’re allowed to have trade union representation (for example at meetings or hearings). Likewise, if you’re subject to fitness to practise proceedings before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the NMC will notify you of your right to legal representation.
To access formal representation from the RCN, you need to have been in the correct category of RCN membership at the time the incident took place. If you’re not sure, you can check your membership dates at MyRCN.
Example:
| 1 December 2025 | A nurse (Charlie) allegedly breaches a patient’s confidentiality. |
| 4 December 2025 | Charlie joins RCN membership. |
| 8 December 2025 | Charlie is suspended from work. She receives a letter from her employer inviting her to an investigation meeting and asking her for a written statement. |
| 9 December 2025 |
Charlie contacts the RCN for support. We can signpost to relevant advice guides but RCN representation cannot be offered. Charlie wasn’t a member of the RCN on the date the incident allegedly occurred (1 December 2025). |
We cannot offer legal support or representation for issues which arose outside of your RCN membership, nor can we recommend any specific alternative provider/solicitor. If you engage another provider/solicitor to support you, you do so at your own expense.
If you were a member of another trade union at the time of the incident you need help with, ask if they will represent you.
It's worth checking whether your insurance policies (such as house or car insurance) include legal expenses cover.
Your local Citizens Advice can offer free initial advice.
Advocate could help you find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers. To receive support from them you will need to be referred by an advice agency (Citizens Advice may be able to arrange a referral for you) or a lawyer.
If you live in England or Wales, the Law Society's directory provides contact details of solicitors/firms in your local area. In Northern Ireland you can contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland and in Scotland the Law Society of Scotland.
The Law Centres Federation provides free legal advice and representation to disadvantaged people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you live in Scotland, the Scottish Legal Aid Board's online calculator can help you assess whether you qualify for advice and financial assistance in a civil, criminal or children's case.
Although we cannot represent you in NMC proceedings regarding incidents which occurred outside of your RCN membership, there are a range of advice guides which could help, including our guidance for members who have been referred to the NMC.
We recommend that you explore legal representation through another provider. However, we cannot recommend or refer to you any other specific provider. If you engage another provider/solicitor to support you, you do so at your own expense.
Advocate could help you find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers. To receive support from them you will need to be referred by an advice agency (Citizens Advice may be able to arrange a referral for you) or a lawyer.
If you live in England or Wales, the Law Society's directory provides contact details of solicitors/firms in your local area. In Northern Ireland you can contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland and in Scotland the Law Society of Scotland.
The Law Centres Federation provides free legal advice and representation to disadvantaged people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Your RCN membership allows you to access 30 minutes free legal advice on non-work matters, including:
- Family law
- Divorce
- Financial and property issues following a relationship breakdown
- Consumer rights
- Neighbour/Boundary disputes
You can apply for this support even if you were not in RCN membership at the time the issue arose. Find out more about this service.
No RCN representation? We're still here to help
Although we cannot provide legal representation on this occasion, we can help you in other ways.
If your financial circumstances change due to your situation, you can access our welfare service.
If you are feeling stressed, disappointed or upset at any point, you can access the RCN’s counselling service. We offer short term, telephone-based counselling as part of your membership.
We also have a range of online resources. For example, our careers resources for members include advice on applying for jobs following dismissal if that is relevant to your situation.
Finally, if you or a loved one has incurred an injury caused by someone else as part of this situation, see our personal injury guide and don’t delay in contacting us.
Looking ahead
Provided you remain in the correct category of RCN membership, you’ll be able to access the full range of RCN support should other incidents arise in future.
Check out our advice guides and get in touch with us about any new issue. We’re here to help.
Search our advice guides
See our A-Z of advice. These guides will help you answer many of your questions about work.
Counselling
Financial Wellbeing
Page last updated - 16/07/2026
