Help if you can’t get legal aid

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Free legal advice

Legal aid pays for free legal advice available to everyone.

Even if you are not eligible for a legal aid solicitor, there are other ways legal aid can help.

Visit the Community Legal Advice website to read leaflets and fact sheets about your rights and the law.

Some lawyers and advisers provide cheaper legal advice and assistance to people who are not eligible for legal aid but cannot afford full legal fees.

You may have to pay some charges, such as photocopying, to cover the organisation's costs.

For example Citizens Advice Bureaux and Law Centres can often provide free legal help.

Many organisations offer a set period (often 30 minutes) of initial free advice.

Some solicitors offer an interview (generally of 30 minutes) for a fixed fee.

Many lawyers offer some services free of charge.

This is called ‘pro bono’ and means ‘for the public good’. You can find more information on these websites:

Trade unions and motoring organisations such as the AA and the RAC offer low-cost or free legal advice to members.

Last updated: 26 June 2009