A demand letter, family dispute or uncertain contract obligation may justify preliminary legal advice. A few concrete questions help you use a short appointment well and identify what needs more detailed professional work afterwards.
Evidence to keep
Before you start
The Duty Lawyer Service's Free Legal Advice Scheme provides preliminary civil or criminal advice about genuine legal problems. Apply in person at a designated referral agency, including a Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, for an initial interview and appointment. The scheme does not provide ongoing case handling or representation. The referring officer needs the case background to arrange the service, so check its scope and appointment arrangements before travelling.
What to do, step by step
- Choose a referral agency from HAD or the Duty Lawyer Service's official information and confirm opening hours and required papers. Explain any court document and deadline at first contact. If a hearing is imminent, seek the appropriate representation route immediately alongside the advice enquiry, recording both sets of instructions.
- Prepare one page identifying the parties, dates, actions already taken, the other party's demand and the outcome you seek. Separate known facts from assumptions. Disclose existing lawyers, legal-aid applications and proceedings so the referral officer can check whether this particular scheme is appropriate for your circumstances.
- Arrange relevant originals and copies chronologically and mark the exact clause or paragraph you need to discuss. Keep complete correspondence rather than only cropped chat extracts, noting its source. At the appointment, prioritise legal obligations, the suitable procedural route and the next deadline that requires action.
- Afterwards, record the advice, missing information and next action. Distinguish tasks you can complete, work requiring a retained lawyer and a possible legal-aid enquiry. Check the service rules before seeking another appointment on the same issue; the consultation does not itself create an agreement to draft letters or attend court.
Costs, timing, and things to check
An appointment does not suspend contractual, court or appeal deadlines. Record dates whenever a formal document arrives. Whether service was valid, time can be extended or a particular reply is needed requires case-specific advice; simply waiting for free advice is not a procedural response to an existing deadline.
Routine government-process questions can go directly to the responsible department. For comprehensive contract review, document drafting or continuing litigation support, ask about a suitable service and fees. Treat the preliminary consultation as guidance on the problem and next route rather than a complete review of every document.
A practical example
A tenant receiving a landlord's demand brings the lease, deposit receipt, handover photographs and letter date. The three questions concern possible liability, useful evidence and responding within time. After the consultation, the tenant can decide whether to retain a lawyer while continuing to monitor the demand and any subsequent papers.
Arrange the formal referral, bring focused questions and act on the next steps afterwards.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.
This is general information; an individual dispute depends on the facts, documents, and current law.