Website of the UK government

How it works

Community Legal Advice is a free and confidential service funded by the Legal Services Commission. It offers help and advice on the following issues:

Who is eligible?

If you need specialist help, you can use the online calculator on the Community Legal Advice website to work out if you're likely to qualify financially for legal assistance.

Even if you don't qualify for financial help, you can get general information, including advice leaflets, free on the website.

When you apply for Legal Aid, you will also have to do a test which looks at the merits of your case. Community Legal Advice 'quality-marked' solicitors or advisers (also listed on the website) can confirm this for you.

• Legal Aid Calculator (opens new window)
• Free legal help - Community Legal Advice (opens new window)

Personal injury cases

You can't get public funding anymore for most personal injury cases. If you want to bring a personal injury case, you'll normally have to do so on a conditional fee ('no win, no fee') basis.

 But public funding is still available for certain complex and expensive personal injuries cases.

• 'No-win, No-fee Actions' leaflet (PDF document, 124K) (opens new window)
• Help with PDF files

How to apply

To apply for help from Community Legal Advice, you need to visit a quality-assured solicitor or adviser.

You'll find a list of these solicitors and advisers in your area in the directory on the Community Legal Advice website. Or you can contact the Community Legal Advice helpline on 0845 345 4 345, Typetalk 180 010 8453 454 345.

• Find a legal adviser (opens new window)

Criminal charges

If you're under police investigation or facing criminal charges, you have a right to legal advice and a fair trial and can get help from the Criminal Defence Service.

Depending on your resources, you may be asked to pay towards the cost of your case. You'll also be expected to meet the cost of your case out of any property you recover or keep as a result of the help you get.

• The Criminal Defence Service (opens new window)

More useful links

• On a low income - benefits information
• Crisis Loans information
• Victims of crime (crime, justice and the law section)
• Responding to a County Court claim
• Find out about your local MP (opens new window)
• Unfair dismissal (employment section)