Support with legal costs

Legal aid

Legal aid can help cover costs for legal advice or court representation in cases like family mediation, tribunals, housing disputes and discrimination cases.

There’s other legal support out there too, such as:

• Legal advice clinics – check the LawWorks website which lists free legal advice sessions.
• Trade unions – if you’re a member of a trade union, they may offer free legal help.
• Employer support – Some workplace Employee Assistance Schemes (EAPs) provide free legal advice, so check with your work whether there’s anything available to you.
• Insurance policies – Check if your home or car insurance includes legal cover.
• Law centres and charities – Many law centres and charities offer free help with issues like housing, immigration and family law. Check Advocate’s website to find a barrister who might represent you for free.
• Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) – You could get legal aid for cases that wouldn’t usually be eligible if your human rights are at risk. Find out more about Exceptional Case Funding here.

Finding a solicitor

Some solicitors offer free initial advice for a few minutes. It’s worth making a quick call to some local firms to see what they can provide. If you do need to pay for legal services, compare fees before committing. The Law Society can help you find suitable options for solicitor services.

Help with court and tribunal fees

You may be able to get a reduction on fees if you have little to no savings and are on a low income. If you receive a court fine, contact the court to ask about payment options, such as spreading the cost in instalments.

Free mediation services

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) runs a voucher scheme, which contributes up to £500 towards the mediation costs for eligible cases, supporting people in resolving their family law disputes outside of court, where appropriate. You can search the FMC Register to find a family mediator near you and ask them about the voucher scheme to see if you qualify.

Small claims court

If you’re dealing with unpaid invoices or disputes under £10,000, the small claims court process is simpler and cheaper than hiring a solicitor.

Legal document templates

Many websites offer free or low-cost legal document templates for contracts, employment agreements and business policies, so it’s worth having a look what’s available to use online.