Alternatives to legal aid

Get urgent legal help where needed

Some alternatives in this guide provide information, initial advice or practical support only. They may not be suitable where you need urgent, specialist legal representation.

If police want to question you at a police station, ask for your own solicitor or the independent duty solicitor immediately. Police station legal advice is free.

If you have been charged, detained, given a criminal court date, face eviction, domestic abuse, child removal proceedings, immigration removal or another urgent deadline, seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible.

A McKenzie Friend, court support charity, information website or general advice clinic is not a substitute for a criminal defence solicitor where you face police questioning or criminal proceedings.

Free legal advice and pro bono support

LawWorks clinics

LawWorks supports a network of free legal advice clinics run by volunteer lawyers. Many clinics provide initial advice, but may not offer ongoing representation.

Each clinic has its own rules. Help may be limited by the area of law, where you live, your income, the type of client it supports or available appointments.

LawWorks itself does not provide legal advice or representation directly.

LawWorks Free Legal Answers

LawWorks Free Legal Answers may help people on low incomes in England and Wales obtain an answer to an early civil legal question from a volunteer solicitor.

It is for initial civil legal advice. It does not guarantee that a question will receive an answer and does not provide ongoing representation.

Advocate

Advocate is the Bar’s pro bono charity. It may be able to arrange free help from a barrister for an eligible case in England and Wales.

Pro bono help is not guaranteed. It depends on the service accepting the case and a suitable volunteer barrister being available.

University law clinics

Some university law schools run legal advice clinics. Students may help under the supervision of qualified lawyers.

The type of help, location, eligibility and availability vary. Ask the university or use the LawWorks clinic finder to see whether a suitable clinic is available.

Law Centres

Law Centres are local legal advice services. They often help with social welfare issues such as housing, benefits, employment, discrimination, family matters and immigration.

Most Law Centres can help only people who live in their local area or meet particular funding or eligibility conditions.

Citizens Advice and AdviceNow

Citizens Advice provides general advice and signposting to free or affordable legal help. Local services may not provide specialist advice on every issue.

AdviceNow provides practical legal information, guides and self help tools. It is not a universal one to one legal advice service.

Other ways to fund legal help

Legal expenses insurance

Check whether you have legal cover through home, motor, travel, employment related, bank account or other insurance policies. Legal expenses insurance may pay for some legal advice or representation, depending on the policy.

Check the policy wording, exclusions, excess, limits, notification requirements and whether you can choose your own solicitor. Read GOV.UK guidance on checking insurance policies.

Trade union support

If you are a trade union member, ask whether your union can provide legal advice, representation or help with legal costs. Availability depends on your membership, the issue and the union’s rules.

Conditional fee and damages based agreements

Some civil solicitors offer a conditional fee agreement, sometimes called “no win, no fee”. Others may offer a damages based agreement, where the solicitor’s fee is linked to the damages recovered.

These agreements have conditions and are not risk free. You may still have to pay expenses, insurance premiums, VAT, or some of the other side’s costs. Ask for written advice about all possible costs before agreeing.

Paying privately for limited help

You may be able to pay a solicitor or barrister for a one off appointment, document review, legal opinion, help with a form or representation at a particular hearing.

Limited advice can help you understand the strength of a case, deadlines, funding options, evidence and next steps without committing to full representation.

If you represent yourself in court

Representing yourself is sometimes called being a litigant in person. You can still obtain legal advice for parts of the case, even if you do not have a lawyer representing you throughout.

Self representation can be difficult, particularly where liberty, housing, children, immigration status, employment, money or strict deadlines are involved. Get at least initial legal advice if you can.

McKenzie Friends

A McKenzie Friend is someone who supports you in court. They may be a friend, family member, volunteer or paid helper.

They may be allowed to:

A McKenzie Friend cannot normally:

The court controls whether a McKenzie Friend may assist and can refuse permission where this is necessary for fairness or justice.

Be cautious about paid McKenzie Friends. They are not normally lawyers, may not be regulated or insured, and cannot carry out reserved legal activities. Read GOV.UK: represent yourself in court.

Support Through Court

Support Through Court provides practical and emotional support for people representing themselves in civil and family courts. It may help with forms, papers, court processes and preparing for court.

It does not provide legal advice or legal representation.

Help with court or tribunal fees

Help with Fees may reduce or remove court or tribunal fees if you meet the income, savings or benefits criteria.

Help with Fees is separate from legal aid. It may help with the fee for starting or progressing a case, but it does not pay for a solicitor or barrister.

Read GOV.UK: Help with Fees.

Choosing an adviser safely

Before agreeing to paid legal help, ask:

Ask for the terms of service and costs information in writing. Do not send sensitive documents until you understand the service and its privacy arrangements.

What if I am unhappy with my legal adviser?

First, use the adviser’s own complaints process.

If you are unhappy with the response, or the complaint has not been resolved after eight weeks, you may be able to complain to the Legal Ombudsman. This route concerns complaints about legal advisers; it does not replace an appeal against a court decision or a complaint about a judge, court staff or police.

Read GOV.UK: complain about a legal adviser.

Quick guide to alternatives

Further information

Important

This information applies to England and Wales. It is general information, not legal advice. If you face police questioning, criminal charges, detention, an urgent court date, domestic abuse, homelessness, immigration removal or another immediate risk, seek specialist legal help promptly.