Alternative Sources of Advice

Provide telephone or online access to qualified operators who can offer legal advice on specific matters. Its included as part of a membership subscriptions.
RAC/AA - Provide legal advice on road traffic matters and related issues.
Disability Law Service - Offers specialist advice to organisations and individuals with disabilities on legal matters affecting disabled people.
Offer immediate access to guidance making them convenient.

A town-centre-based legal advice agency that provides general legal advice through multiple channels: face-to-face consultations, telephone advice and online support.
Over 3,500 locations across England and Wales. The Citizens' Advice Bureaux are staffed by trained volunteers and profressional advisers who assist with housing disputes, debt problems, employment matters and benefit entitlements.

Provide free access to legal advice from qualified solicitors. There are approximately 45 law centres located across England.
It focuses on areas of law for the disadvantaged community such as housing law, welfare benefits, immigration law and employment law.
Law centres can employ solicitors who can provide representation in court.

Offer specific, targeted legal advice to their members on issues relevant to the particular union, generally focusing on employment-related matters.
National Union of Teachers - advises teachers on employment disputes, disciplinary proceedings, and professional conduct issues.
British Medical Council - supports doctors with regulatory matters and employment concerns.
Funded through membership subscriptions and offers specialist advice.

Refers to the situations where individuals pay for their own litigation and legal services without state assistance.

Citizens pay for legal services directly from their personal finances. They pay legal fees from their own income or savings, take out a personal loan etc.
This method provides complete choice of legal representative it has significant barriers. The cost of legal services can be substantial, potentially placing individuals into financial difficulty. It also creates inequality in access to justice, as only those with sufficient financial resources can afford quality legal representation.

It can be purchased to cover the cost of legal proceedings. Insurance policies may be obtained seperately or included as optional extras in household or motor insurance policies. There are two types of legal expenses insurance:
Before the event insurance - Taken out in anticipation of potentially to fight or defend a legal case in the future. It provides cover in case any dispute arises.
After the event insurance - Arranged once a legal dispute has begun. It protects against the risk of losing the case and paying the oppenent's case as well as damages.

Known as 'no win, no fee' arrangements.
Under a CFA an agreement is made between the client and their solicitor that legal costs would only be paid if the case is won. If the case is successful, the solicitor's fee is paid from the compensation awarded, along with an additional success fee to reflect the solicitor's risk into taking the case. If the case is lost, the client pays nothing to their solicitor.

reduced financial anxiety
wide availability of solictors
no upfront payment
alternative funding method

higher fees
cherry-picking - solicitors may be selective, only accepting cases of strong prospects of success

Provides state-funded legal aid and advice to help individuals deal with legal problems when they cannot afford private funding.

Administers the public funding system for both civil and criminal legal aid.
It ensures legal aid services from solicitors, barristers and legal executives are accessible for those who qualify.
Operates the Civil Legal Advice Service for civil matters.
Runs the Public Defender Service

Provides free and confidential advice on civil law matters to those who pass the relevant eligibility test. It covers debt problems, housing disputes and domestic abuse cases.
Eligibility is merit tested, meaning applicants must demonstrate their case has sufficient merit to justify public funding. Applications are made through the government website, and funding decisions consider both the strength of the case and the financial circumstances.

Offers a full range of criminal defence services, covering representation from the police station through the court proceedings and appeals.
Free representation available to defendants who meet the eligibility criteria.
24 hour advice
Access to approximatelt 25 experienced advocates, including seven Queen's Counsel.
Eligibility is determined through a means test, which examines the applicant's household income, capital assets and outgoings.

1. Provides legal representation for individuals with no income or low income who would otherwise be unable to access justice.
2. Fundamental right reflects the legal principle that legal assistance should be available as part of the welfare state in England and Wales.

1. Strict means testing as it can be harsh, excluding individuals who are not wealthy but deemed too financially secure to qualify.
2. Budget constraints as there are government caps with criminal cases typically prioritised over civil matters.
3. Reduced attractiveness to lawyers as fee rates for public funding are lower than private fees, making it less appealing to experienced solicitors.
4. Some argue it attracts newly qualified, inexperienced solicitors seeking initial cases, potentially affecting quality of representation.