Getting legal help when you can't pay

If you cannot afford a solicitor, the UK still has several ways to get legal help. Understanding what is available—from legal aid to free first consultations to community advice centres—can save you both money and stress.

Check Your Legal Aid Eligibility Online

Legal aid is means-tested and merit-tested, meaning the government checks both your financial situation and whether your case is serious enough to qualify. You will not be charged just to check whether you are eligible.

Visit the official 'Check if you can get legal aid' service on GOV.UK. You will answer questions about your legal problem, income, and savings. Based on your answers, you will be told what to do next. If you cannot use the online service, you can call the Civil Legal Advice helpline, which also offers support in British Sign Language and other languages.

To qualify for legal aid, you generally need to show you cannot afford legal costs and your problem is serious. You will usually need to provide details and evidence of your income, benefits, savings and property—and if you have a partner, theirs too. If you are under 18, you may need to provide information about your parents' or guardians' income.

A regulated legal adviser will apply for legal aid on your behalf; you cannot apply on your own. Some people on qualifying benefits automatically pass the income test through a process called 'passporting'.

What Legal Aid Actually Covers

Legal aid covers a limited range of problems. The headline areas are asylum, domestic abuse, discrimination, homelessness, child protection, and family issues involving abuse. You can also get legal aid for welfare benefits appeals, mental health detentions, and public law challenges against government or council decisions.

• Asylum and seeking refuge in the UK
• Domestic abuse, forced marriage, and harassment by a partner or family member
• Discrimination based on disability, race, age, sex, religion, pregnancy or other protected grounds
• Homelessness, eviction, or other serious housing problems
• Child protection and family care proceedings
• Family advice if you have been in an abusive relationship
• Appeals against welfare benefits decisions (to the Upper Tribunal or higher)
• Challenges to government or council decisions affecting you

Legal aid does not cover most debt problems, employment disputes (unless they involve discrimination), or appeals against lower-level benefits decisions. It also does not cover simple conveyancing, wills, or general consumer problems—unless discrimination is involved.

Free Advice from Citizens Advice and Law Centres

Citizens Advice and law centres offer free initial legal advice on most issues, whether or not legal aid applies. Both are reliable, confidential, and staffed by experienced advisers.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice provides free, impartial advice on a wide range of topics: benefits, housing, employment, debt, family matters, and discrimination. You can visit a local Citizens Advice centre in person or phone for advice. Some bureaux also help you understand whether you qualify for legal aid and can refer you to a solicitor if needed.

Law Centres

Law centres are staffed by qualified solicitors and specialist case workers offering free legal advice. They typically cover benefits, employment, housing, immigration and asylum, discrimination, and debt. Some can represent you at a tribunal or court hearing if your case is complex enough.

Find your local Citizens Advice on their website or your nearest law centre on the Law Centres Network website. Both are good first stops if you are unsure whether legal aid applies to your problem.

Ask Solicitors About Free First Consultations

Many private solicitors offer a free initial consultation, often 15 to 30 minutes by phone or in person. This is your chance to ask whether they can help and understand what a case might cost—without paying a fee upfront.

During the consultation, a solicitor will listen to your situation and advise you on your options. If your case qualifies for legal aid, they may be able to apply on your behalf. If it does not, they will explain what the likely costs are so you can decide whether to proceed.

Immigration Advice: Use Only Regulated Advisers

Immigration advice is a regulated activity in the UK. It is illegal to provide immigration advice for a fee unless you are properly authorised. Using an unregulated adviser can lead to serious problems with your application or immigration status.

Only advisers regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (formerly known as OISC, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner), or by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (for solicitors), are legally permitted to give immigration advice. The Immigration Advice Authority changed its name from OISC on 16 January 2025, but the rules are the same.

The Immigration Advice Authority regulates advisers at three levels. Level 1 advisers can handle straightforward cases like standard visas and form completion. Level 2 advisers handle more complex cases, including appeals before the First-tier Tribunal. Only Level 3 advisers can represent you before an immigration tribunal or handle judicial review.

Before paying for immigration advice, check the adviser's registration using the Immigration Advice Authority adviser finder on GOV.UK. Verify their level matches the complexity of your case. If you suspect someone is giving unregulated immigration advice, you can report them.

Other Free and Low-Cost Options

If legal aid does not apply and a solicitor is out of reach, other routes exist:

• Trade unions: If you are a member, your union may offer free legal advice—not just on employment matters, but on housing, family, and other issues too.
• Pro bono clinics: Volunteer barristers and solicitors offer free representation in court or tribunal cases through charities like Advocate and the Free Representation Unit. You will usually need a referral from a solicitor or advice agency.
• Law school clinics: Some universities run free legal clinics where law students, under supervision, offer advice on a range of matters.
• Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service: Free legal help if you have received written notice that someone is seeking possession of your home.
• Ombudsman schemes: For certain complaints against government bodies, councils, or public services, an ombudsman can investigate for free and may help resolve your case without going to court.

Representing Yourself: When and How

If you cannot access legal aid or free advice, you have the right to represent yourself in court or at a tribunal, known as being a 'litigant in person'. This is not ideal—legal cases are complex—but it is possible.

Before representing yourself, try to get at least an initial advice session from Citizens Advice, a law centre, or a solicitor. They can explain the legal issues and what to expect. Websites like Advicenow and the Citizens Advice guide to going to court offer practical step-by-step help. The judiciary website also has resources for litigants in person.

Getting Help: A Practical Checklist

1. Visit checklegalaid.service.gov.uk to check your legal aid eligibility. It takes about 15 minutes and is free.
2. If you do not qualify for legal aid, contact your local Citizens Advice or law centre for a free initial conversation.
3. Ask any solicitor you contact about offering a free first consultation. Many do—there is no harm in asking.
4. If your issue involves immigration, search the Immigration Advice Authority adviser finder to verify any adviser before paying.
5. If you are a union member, ask your representative what legal help your union offers.
6. Note down key dates and deadlines for your legal issue (applications, appeals, court dates) so you do not miss them.

Getting legal advice early, even if it is just a free initial consultation, can help you avoid mistakes and understand your real options. Start by checking your eligibility for legal aid, then reach out to a local advice agency. You may find help is closer than you think.