Law Centres Network
Free Face-to-Face Legal Advice for Families and Individuals on Social Welfare Law
Who It’s For: Families, children, young people and individuals across the UK who need free legal advice but cannot afford a solicitor and do not qualify for Legal Aid. Particularly relevant to families facing housing, benefits, employment, immigration, disability rights or community care issues. Each Law Centre serves its local community — eligibility is usually based on where you live.
What They Offer: Law Centres Network is the national charity that supports and connects over 40 independent Law Centres across England and Wales. Each Law Centre provides free, face-to-face legal advice, casework and representation to local people on social welfare law — the areas of law that most affect people’s everyday lives. Staffed by qualified solicitors and legal advisers, Law Centres specialise in areas including welfare benefits and disability rights, housing and homelessness, employment, immigration and asylum, community care and debt. Some centres have specialist teams focused on disability, SEND or family law. Unlike general advice services, Law Centres can take on full casework and represent clients — not just point them in the right direction.
Support Includes:
- Free face-to-face legal advice from qualified solicitors and legal advisers
- Full casework — taking on complex cases from start to finish
- Legal representation — including at tribunals and court hearings
- Welfare benefits advice — including disability benefits, Universal Credit and appeals
- Housing and homelessness advice — including eviction, repairs and homelessness applications
- Employment law advice — unfair dismissal, discrimination and redundancy
- Immigration and asylum advice
- Community care advice — rights to assessment and support from local authorities
- Disability rights — advice on accessing services and challenging discrimination
- Debt advice in some centres
- Signposting to other local and national services where Law Centre cannot assist
Referral / Access: Self-referral. Use the Law Centre finder on the website to locate your nearest centre — contact them directly to check eligibility and what they can help with before visiting. Eligibility criteria and specialist areas vary by centre. Most Law Centres can only help people who live within their local catchment area. If there is no Law Centre near you, the website includes a list of other sources of help.
Why This Matters: Access to justice should not depend on how much money you have — but in reality, legal advice is often completely out of reach for families who are already struggling. Law Centres have been changing that for over 50 years, putting qualified lawyers in local communities to stand alongside the people who need them most. Whether you are fighting a benefits decision, facing eviction, or trying to secure the right care for your child, a Law Centre can be one of the most powerful sources of free support available to your family.
Similar Services
Other families found these services helpful
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Try adjusting your filters or explore other topics that may help.