Signposting
Where to get free legal help
Before paying for legal advice, check whether you can get it free. These organisations are independent of Free Legal Advice UK; we have no arrangement with any of them and they do not endorse this site. They cover England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own advice services.
Photo: George Morina / Pexels (opens in a new tab)
In an emergency, for example if you are in danger, call 999. If you are facing eviction or homelessness today, contact your local council's housing team or Shelter straight away.
Free and low-cost legal help
Citizens Advice
Free, independent and confidential advice on a wide range of problems, including housing, employment, debt, benefits, consumer and family issues, online, by phone and through local offices in England and Wales.
Visit Citizens Advice (opens in a new tab)Law Centres Network
The national network of not-for-profit law centres, which give free legal advice and representation to people in their local communities. Use its directory to find a law centre near you.
Visit Law Centres Network (opens in a new tab)LawWorks
A charity that connects volunteer lawyers with people who need legal help and cannot afford it, including through free legal advice clinics across England and Wales.
Visit LawWorks (opens in a new tab)Shelter
The housing and homelessness charity. Its website has detailed housing advice for England, and it runs an emergency helpline for people facing homelessness.
Visit Shelter (opens in a new tab)Shelter Cymru
Housing advice for people in Wales, where renting law is different from England.
Visit Shelter Cymru (opens in a new tab)Acas
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service gives free, impartial information and advice to employees and employers, and runs early conciliation before most employment tribunal claims.
Visit Acas (opens in a new tab)Civil Legal Advice
The government's legal aid advice service in England and Wales. It can help if you are eligible for legal aid, for example with certain housing, debt, discrimination, education and family problems.
Visit Civil Legal Advice (opens in a new tab)Check if you can get legal aid
A GOV.UK tool to check whether your problem might be covered by legal aid and whether you might qualify financially.
Visit Check if you can get legal aid (opens in a new tab)Find a legal aid adviser
Search GOV.UK for legal aid providers and family mediators near you.
Visit Find a legal aid adviser (opens in a new tab)Law Society: Find a Solicitor
The Law Society's searchable directory of solicitors and firms in England and Wales, by area of law and location.
Visit Law Society: Find a Solicitor (opens in a new tab)SRA register
The Solicitors Regulation Authority's register lets you check that a solicitor or firm is authorised and regulated, and whether any decisions have been made about them.
Visit SRA register (opens in a new tab)Advocate
The Bar's pro bono charity, which helps find free legal assistance from volunteer barristers in some cases. Applications usually need to come through an adviser or solicitor.
Visit Advocate (opens in a new tab)Tips for getting the most from free advice
- Have key documents ready, such as your contract, tenancy agreement, letters and any court papers.
- Write a short timeline of what has happened, with dates.
- Note any deadlines, such as a court date, a tribunal time limit or the date on a notice.
- Ask whether the adviser can help with the whole problem or just part of it.
Our guides can help you understand the basics before you speak to an adviser.