Legal aid can help to meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal.
What is Legal Aid?
Legal Aid is help for people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. It helps you:
- Get legal advice.
- Go to court.
- Understand your rights and options.
- Handle negotiations and paperwork.
- Get a solicitor or barrister to prepare your case and represent you in court or tribunals.
- A solicitor can give legal advice and handle paperwork, whilst a barrister can help represent you in court
Types of Cases it can help with:
- Family issues: Divorce, custody of children.
- Housing problems: Eviction, bad living conditions.
- Benefits: Issues with welfare or disability benefits.
- Criminal cases: If you are accused of a crime.
You Might Be Entitled to Legal Aid If:
- You get benefits like:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- You or your family are at risk of serious harm.
- You are at risk of losing your home.
- You are being discriminated against.
- You are making a legal case under the Human Rights Act.
What to Do
- Check Your Eligibility for Legal Aid
- Use the provided link to see if you qualify.
- Contact a Legal Aid Solicitor
- Find a solicitor from our service directory. They will apply for legal aid for you. Also see the Gov website to Find a legal aid adviser or family mediator (justice.gov.uk).
- Provide Information
- You need to give details about your benefits, income, and savings.
For more situations where you might get legal aid, visit the Citizen’s Advice website.
Exceptional Cases
You might get legal aid in special situations if refusing it would affect your:
- Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
- EU rights to legal representation.
- This is because they ensure everyone has the right to a fair trial and the right to have a lawyer. Without legal aid, you might not have a fair chance to defend yourself.
Where to Get Legal Advice
Civil Legal Advice (CLA)
- Free, confidential advice in England and Wales if you qualify for legal aid.
- Phone: 0345 345 4 345
- Website: CLA Website
Law Centres Network
- Offers legal advice, casework, and representation.
- Website: Law Centres Network
Citizens Advice
- Provides free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice.
- Website: Citizens Advice
Advice Now
- Provides accurate information on rights and the law.
- Website: Advice Now
If you are experiencing difficulties please contact the Friends, Families and Travellers helpline on 01273 234 777. We are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm excluding bank holidays.
Correct as of July 2024.
