Our aim is to help those members of the community who, due to financial hardship, would not otherwise be able to access such advice. Therefore, our pro bono service provides free legal advice to members of the public across a range of legal issues.
Our students play a crucial role in providing the service by interviewing clients, undertaking research and providing advice. They are supervised by experienced and qualified lawyers at all times and this service is part of their training to become the lawyers of the future.
Please see our Pro Bono Privacy Notice for information on how we use your personal information.
Here are some of the legal services we offer near you:
Birmingham
WHAT WE DO
We offer free legal advice on certain areas of law to people in need of non-urgent legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay.
We are a member of LawWorks a charity based in England and Wales committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice.
HOW TO CONTACT US
We run a number of specific clinics that you can email directly for advice and assistance.
- For FAMILY LAW queries please email [email protected]
- For WILL, TRUST AND ESTATE enquiries please email [email protected]
- For SMALL BUSINESS enquiries please email [email protected]
- For EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING or PERSONAL INJURY enquiries please email [email protected]
When emailing please provide your full name, address, telephone number and a brief summary as to your enquiry.
For general law queries email [email protected].
Please note that due to the number of enquiries received it is not always possible to provide a personalised response.
Bristol and Exeter
Litigants in Person (LiP) Service
This free initiative is designed to help those who are facing the possibility of attending, or are attending, proceedings in the small claims or family courts.
Who is the service for? People involved in a legal dispute, those who work with individuals involved in disputes and those who simply want to learning more about the court process.
The information sessions are designed to assist the public in understanding the legal system by explaining technical terms, describing the court process and offering assistance in how to prepare for a hearing.
Opening times: The scheme consists of an information session and a tour of the court between 1pm-2pm every Friday.
Family Law Email Advice Line (FEAL)
If you’re looking for advice regarding divorces and finance, separation and issues concerning children, you may wish to contact our Family Law Email Advice Line.
Contact: [email protected]
Please note: We are only able to give advice on a one-off basis, as we don’t have the facility to take on the day-to-day management of your case.
We currently only offer advice on issues relating to family law. If you have a different type of legal problem but can’t afford a solicitor, the following services may be useful to you:
Chester
Legal Advice Centre
Do you need legal advice for a non-urgent legal problem?
If so, our students may be able to help.
From October to May each year our students offer free initial advice on a variety of legal matters. All advice is given in writing, usually following a telephone interview, under the supervision of a qualified lawyer. Interviews are by prior appointment only.
Contact: 01482 216848
Family Email Advice Line (FEAL)
Are you looking for advice on matters regarding family law?
Our Family Email Advice Line is a free service offering independent, written legal advice on all family issues.
The service is run by our students at our Chester campus, supervised by a practising solicitor or a supervising solicitor, and all advice is given in writing.
Contact: [email protected]
Chester Employment Rights Advice Line (CHERAL)
Are you an employee? Do you have an employment law query?
If so, the Chester Employment Rights Advice Line may be able to help you.
This service offers free preliminary advice to employees and workers on employment law issues. Advice is given by fully qualified specialist employment law solicitors who work on a voluntary basis.
Opening times: All advice is given by phone at a time convenient to you.
Contact: Phone 01483 216848
South East
We offer free legal advice on certain areas of law to people who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay. We are a member of LawWorks a charity based in England and Wales committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice.
To read more about the service we offer and how to make a request for legal advice on our areas of expertise please view our online enquiry form where you can provide details about your case.
We are not able to provide advice on any matter relating to debt management, crime, immigration, professional negligence, Court of Protection, wills or probate. Matters that we can help with include property law, landlord and tenant law, family law, some consumer law matters and business law.
Please note that we are able to take referrals from anywhere in England and Wales. Trained students take initial details of your case by calling you on the phone number you provide. Please note that you will not receive advice at this point. This information is then sent to a qualified lawyer to confirm whether we can help you. If so, we will book you an appointment to receive thirty minutes of free, oral legal advice. During the advice session students are always present to observe and assist the lawyer. If we cannot advise you, we refer you to other sources of help. We do not provide casework or representation and cannot assist with complex or urgent cases.
If you are unable to access our online form, please leave a message on our 24-hour answerphone 01483 217528 or email us at [email protected].
Leeds
Legal Advice Clinic
If you have a non-urgent legal problem which you would like free written legal advice from a specialist solicitor – we may be able to help you.
Our clinic provides free assistance on employment, family and housing legal issues. We offer free 30 minute face-to-face appointments with a qualified solicitor. Our students then write a letter of advice, which is checked by a specialist solicitor and our in-house supervising solicitor before being sent out within three weeks on the appointment.
Our students will interview you and then research and draft a letter of advice, including practical next steps under the supervision of qualified legal staff. Please note that no advice is given at the interview stage.
Opening times: Interviews take place with our student volunteers at the new Roundhouse on Ashton Old Road in Openshaw on Wednesday evenings.
Contact: Phone 01483 216115 or email [email protected].
Please leave a message with your details and a brief summary of your query.
Liverpool
For individuals
Liverpool Legal Advice Clinic
If you have a non-urgent legal problem and would like free written legal advice, approved by a solicitor, we may be able to help you. Our students provide written legal advice after your appointment, under the supervision of qualified staff.
Opening times: We offer free initial legal advice during term time.
Contact: Phone 01483405510 or email [email protected].
For community groups, charities or organisations that offer support to individuals
We may be able to support the service you provide by helping you assist the public, your service users or even assisting with your staff or volunteers.
- If you regularly encounter people with legal problems, we could operate a regular drop in legal advice clinic for your service users.
- If your staff are repeatedly faced with the same questions regarding the law, they may benefit from some free legal education. Our students offer public legal education sessions where they deliver a session on a particular topic or subject area to meet your needs, under the supervision of a solicitor. Example topics include consumer rights, landlord or tenant issues and parental responsibility.
- We can advertise your volunteering roles to our students and help with the matching and introduction process. You get willing and able volunteers who can commit to a fixed period of involvement and our students get invaluable experience.
Contact: [email protected]
London and Norwich
Free Legal Advice for the Public
We offer free legal advice on certain areas of law to people who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay. We are a member of LawWorks a charity based in England and Wales committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice.
To read more about the service we offer and how to make a request for legal advice on our areas of expertise (small business; family law or referral information); please view our online enquiry form where you can provide details about your case.
If you are unable to access our online form, please leave a message on our 24-hour answerphone 01483 217528 or email us at [email protected]
Manchester
East Manchester Legal Advice Clinic
If you have a non-urgent legal problem which you would like written legal advice from a specialist solicitor – we may be able to help you.
Our clinic provides free assistance on consumer, employment, family and housing legal issues.
Our students will interview you and then research and draft a letter of advice, including practical next steps under the supervision of qualified legal staff. Please note that no advice is given at the interview stage.
Opening times: Interviews take place with our student volunteers at the new Roundhouse on Ashton Old Road in Openshaw on Wednesday evenings.
Contact: To be considered for an appointment, please phone 01483 216924 and leave a message with your details and a brief summary of your query.
Nottingham
The University of Law Nottingham Legal Advice Centre
WHAT WE DO
We offer free legal advice on certain areas of law to people in need of non-urgent legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay.
We are a member of LawWorks a charity based in England and Wales committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice.
HOW TO CONTACT US
We run a number of specific clinics that you can email directly for advice and assistance.
- For FAMILY LAW queries please email [email protected]
- For WILL, TRUST AND ESTATE enquiries please email [email protected]
- For SMALL BUSINESS enquiries please email [email protected]
- For EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING or PERSONAL INJURY enquiries please email [email protected]
When emailing please provide your full name, address, telephone number and a brief summary as to your enquiry.
For general law queries email [email protected].
Please note that due to the number of enquiries received it is not always possible to provide a personalised response.
Useful links
The following websites provide information about legal issues, including pro bono organisations and advice. We take no responsibility for the content of external websites.
Legal information and advice
AdviceNow – Provides accurate, practical information on rights and the law in England and Wales.
Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service – Provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on employment law.
Citizens Advice – Provides free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal or consumer problems.
Equality and Human Rights Commission – The non-departmental public body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of equality and non-discrimination laws in England, Scotland and Wales.
CompactLaw – Provides some free legal information and services online.
Legal Aid Agency – Provides civil and criminal legal aid and advice in England and Wales.
Government departments and useful information
You Be The Judge - Interactive tool to help you understand sentencing.
Court Service for England and Wales
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Employment Tribunals - Government Department responsible for hearing claims from people who think an employer or potential employer has treated them unlawfully.
Health and Safety Executive - Shapes and reviews health and safety regulations, produces research and enforces the health and safety law.
Department for Work and Pensions
Chartered Trading Standards Institute - Supports and represents trading standards professionals in the UK and abroad.
Government and Equality - Government guidance and regulations information as well as research and statistics on equality.
Professional bodies and ombudsmen
The Law Society – Independent professional body for solicitors in England and Wales.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsmen – Free service which investigates complaints regarding councils, adult social care providers and some other organisations providing local public services.
The Law Centres Network – Law centres specialising in social welfare law that work within their communities to defend the legal rights of local people.
Legal Ombudsmen – This organisation looks at complaints about legal service providers.
Pensions Ombudsmen – This organisation looks at complaints about pension service providers.
The Financial Conduct Authority – Protects customers, enhances market integrity and promotes competition.
Prudential Regulation Authority – Regulation and supervision of financial services firms.