Where can I get free legal advice in England?
Short answer
Free legal advice in England is available from Citizens Advice, Shelter (housing), ACAS (employment), National Debtline (debt), law centre clinics, university law clinics, and some solicitors offering free initial consultations.
There are several sources of free or low-cost legal advice available in England, depending on your issue. Citizens Advice is a national charity with local branches providing free, impartial advice on a wide range of legal issues including housing, employment, benefits, and debt — available in person, by phone, and online. Shelter provides free housing legal advice via their helpline (0808 800 4444), online resources, and local services. ACAS offers free workplace advice and early conciliation for employment disputes. National Debtline (0808 808 4000) and StepChange (0800 138 1111) provide free debt advice. Law centres are non-profit legal practices that provide free legal advice to those who cannot afford a solicitor — there are over 40 across England. Many universities run law clinics where students supervised by qualified solicitors provide free advice on straightforward legal problems. The Bar Council and Law Society run "Free Legal Advice" days and some solicitors offer a free 30-minute initial consultation. The Royal Courts of Justice and some County Court hearing centres have Citizens Advice legal support volunteers available on the day of hearings to provide guidance. Community Legal Advice (via 0345 345 4345) can direct you to local legal aid providers. For domestic abuse cases, Refuge and Women's Aid provide specialist legal advice. For immigration matters, UKVI and the Migrants' Rights Network can signpost free services.
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