Other

Citizens Advice Bureau

Citizens Advice Scotland form Scotland’s largest independent advice network.  Some bureaux have in-court advisors and lay representatives – find your local Citizens Advice Bureau at www.cas.org.uk/bureaux.

The Citizens Advice Bureau is an accredited agency for referrals to the Free Legal Services Unit of the Faculty of Advocates (see below).

Faculty of Advocates

The Free Legal Services Unit (FLSU) was established to provide free legal advice and representation by volunteer advocates for those who cannot afford the legal help they need, and who cannot obtain assistance from any other source. If you are interested in accessing help from the FLSU you will need to consult an accredited agency and meet certain criteria.

Free Legal Services Units which can be accessed through accredited agencies.  Current accredited advice agencies can be found at www.advocates.org.uk/instructing-advocates/free-legal-services-unit

University Law Clinics

Law Clinics can provide free legal advice, assistance and representation to members of the public. Contact a clinic if they are local to you and you feel you have a problem they could help you with.

University law clinics operating in Scotland at present are:

Aberdeen Law Project – abdnlawproject.com

Robert Gordon University: www.rgu.ac.uk/life-at-rgu/learning-facilities/law-facilities/the-law-clinic

The University of Edinburgh – www.law.ed.ac.uk/about-us/free-legal-advice-centre

Edinburgh Napier Law Clinic – www.enlc.co.uk

Glasgow Caledonian University: www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/universityfacilities/lawclinic

University of Strahtclyde Law Clinic – www.lawclinic.org.uk

Please note that law clinics do not advise in all areas of law, with normal exclusions being family law and criminal law. Please also note that the relevant law clinic may not be able to assist you, particularly if you earn over a certain threshold amount or if there is a more appropriate alternative provider who can assist you, which would normally be the case if you are eligible for legal aid.

Scottish Child Law Centre

Provide free legal advice by telephone or email on all aspects of Scots law relating to children and young people. This is a national service, available to anyone in Scotland or where Scots law has jurisdiction.

They can advise on matters related to parental responsibilities and rights, residence, contact, children’s rights, youth offenders, education, health, social work, and access to files.

If you are under 21 and want to talk to someone about how the law affects you, call their freephone advice line on 0800 328 8970 (from landlines) or 0300 3301421 (from mobiles).

You can contact them anytime or during their dedicated “Youth Hour” which takes place every Tuesday and Thursday between 12 and 1 o’clock, when their solicitors only take calls from children and young people.

If you are a parent, relative or carer, a professional who works with or for children and have a question about any aspect of child law you can call on 0131 667 6333 or email advice@sclc.org.uk

The advice line is open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4pm.

Website: www.sclc.org.uk

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)

ACAS provide employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice.

Helpline: 0300 123 1100, open Mon-Fri, 8am – 6pm

Website: www.acas.org.uk

Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS)

EASS can advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality, discrimination and human rights.

Freephone: 0808 800 0082, open Mon-Fri 9am – 7pm & Sat 10am – 2pm

Website: www.equalityadvisoryservice.com

Shelter Scotland

Shelter can provide free advice, support and legal services.

Advice helpline: 0808 800 4444

Open Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm.

Website: https://scotland.shelter.org.uk