Legal Costs

Many people think that legal advice always comes at a high cost. However, the reality is that there are a huge number of ways that you can get free or low cost advice.

Free services from law centres, advice agencies and local authority services: Law Centres, advice agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB), independent advice agencies and local authority services, offer most of their services free of charge.

Free first interview: Many organisations, particularly solicitors firms, offer a set period of free initial advice, often thirty minutes.

The Community Legal Service Fund: The CLS Fund replaced Legal Aid in April 2000. The CLS Fund can help pay for the legal help you need. You can get financial support for a wide range of legal matters, as long as you meet certain conditions. You may have to pay a contribution towards your legal costs.

Further information about legal costs and the CLS Fund is available on the Community Legal Service online. On Community Legal Services Direct you will find a Legal Aid calculator, which roughly calculates if you qualify.