Where do you start when looking for free legal advice? There are some national and local organisations staffed by people with legal training and good conscience that are fighting the good fight. We list legal advice centres on the Innate Needs map. There are far too few of these lawyers and the demand for them is high. But they are out there. These are some of the reasons a person might need their services.
The power imbalance between those who write and enforce the laws and those who are subject to its strictures is huge - and the universal right to legal defence by someone who is trained in the law is paramount under any system calling itself a democracy.
Seeking legal advice can be a real game changer - especially in the sorts of situations where an individual is in dispute with a person or organisation that has more power than them.
Any dispute between tenant and landlord brings this disparity into sharp focus. The owner of the property has the right to extract rental income on a weekly or monthly basis, and (currently - the law is changing on this) the right to make you homeless on a whim. To know your rights as a tenant means understanding complex legislation enacted over centuries. Having access to legal help from someone who knows the law goes some way to redressing this imbalance.
The many branches of the civil state can legally impact people’s lives. This is the price we pay to try to reduce the horrors of domestic and child abuse. But what if you suspect mistakes have been made by your case workers? When you are emotionally involved in a case - that may involve, for instance, access rights to your children - how are you supposed to take a step back and check that due process has been followed? A lawyer can do this on your behalf.
Baroness Casey, tasked with investigating the Metropolitan Police, found the force to be institutionally racist and misogynistic. What should a Person of Colour do if falsely accused of a crime? The essential move is to seek legal representation. The legal system is far from perfect, but we do know that unrepresented defendants face harsher justice outcomes.
The very concept of the Rule of Law should mean that the law applies to everyone - individuals, organisations, politicians and the armed force of the state.
If you need legal advice, take a look at the Innate Needs map to see what help is available near you.