Key organisations helping with law & courts
Civil Legal Advice is the government service responsible for assessing eligibility for legal aid for civil (family, money, personal injury etc.) court matters. If they assess you as eligible for legal aid, you will be put you in touch with a qualified solicitor who can help you.
T: 0345 3454 345 Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-12.30pm
Minicom: 0345 609 6677 Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-12.30pm
Text ‘legalaid’ and your name to 80010 to ask CLA to call you back.
For general information about legal aid, including eligibility and how to claim, see this Gov.uk page.
For an up to date list of legal aid providers across the UK, see this Gov.uk page.
South West London Law Centres provide free, independent legal advice on social welfare issues including housing, debt, immigration and employment. They can also help if you can’t afford a lawyer.
The Law Society keeps a register of all solicitors and law firms in England and Wales. Use their online search to find a solicitor. You can narrow down by area of law, languages spoken, disabled access and whether they accept legal aid. You can also use the ‘pro search’ to search for solicitors with specialist accreditations.
Helplines not open to members of the public.
Law Works can help you find volunteer lawyers if you need legal advice but are not eligible or cannot afford to pay. They also have links to many other helpful organisations.
Royal Courts of Justice Advice is a Citizens Advice Service based in London. They can assist families from all over the UK who have a case in a family court. They can advise, and in some cases represent you for free.
