Legal Support for Single Parents

Law centres provide free or affordable advice and representation to people in Scotland.

Many of the Scottish Law Centres offer local drop-in services where you can make an appointment for an informal discussion.

• Castlemilk Law and Money Advice Centre – Free legal advice from solicitors for the people of Southeast Glasgow.
• Fife Law Centre – Free legal advice and representation from solicitors for the people of Fife.
• Govan Law Centre – Free legal advice from solicitors for the people of Glasgow.
• Legal Service Agency – Advice and representation in all courts and tribunals in Scotland.
• Scottish Child Law Centre – Free and confidential legal advice from trained solicitors about Scots law relating to children and young people across Scotland.
• Dundee Law Centre – Free legal advice and representation from solicitors for the people of Dundee.

University law clinics give free advice to those who need it and can assist with resolving legal problems where possible.

If you’re eligible for support, your case will be dealt with by students of law at the University. The students are overseen by practising solicitors and professionals.

Student law clinics often do not advise in certain areas such as family law, immigration law and criminal law. The support on offer can vary depending on the University.

Eligibility for using the service varies depending on the University, so if you’re unsure it’s a good idea to get in touch to ask if they can help you.

To be eligible for this type of legal support

• You must earn under a certain amount which means you have restricted access to legal aid and advice
• You must not qualify for legal aid
• There must not be another alternative you can turn to

Because these services are student-led, they are usually only available during academic term-time.

The University law clinics currently available in Scotland are:

• The Aberdeen Law Project
• RGU’s Grampian Community Law Centre
• Edinburgh Law School’s Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)
• University of Strathclyde Law Clinic
• Glasgow Caledonian University’s Law Clinic
• University of Dundee Law Clinic
• University of St Andrews Law Clinic (for University of St Andrews students only)

Legal aid, sometimes called legal assistance, is financial support for those who can’t afford to pay their own legal costs.

To get legal aid, you must apply through a solicitor who does legal work. Find a solicitor here. They can talk you through your options and help you with the application process if you’re eligible.

Even if you get legal aid, you may still have to pay for some of the legal costs relating to your case depending on your financial situation. You can potentially arrange to pay these costs back later.

Before you apply for legal aid it’s a good idea to look into all your options for legal help, because some options might be cheaper or completely free.

To be eligible for legal aid

• You do not need to be a British Citizen.
• You usually need to prove that you can’t afford to pay for your legal costs.
• If you’re on certain benefits, you are automatically eligible for certain types of legal aid.
• You cannot apply for legal aid on behalf of a business, it must be for your own needs.
• If you’re a child or young person seeking legal aid, work out if you will be able to get children’s legal aid.
• Work out if you’re eligible for financial help when accessing legal advice and assistance, including for criminal cases.
• Work out if you’re eligible for civil legal aid.

• Social Security and Child Support Tribunal – for appealing decisions about Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Child Benefit and Universal Credit.
• Local Taxation Chamber – for appealing decisions about Council Tax.
• Scottish Public Services Ombudsman – for appealing decisions about Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants.

• Clan childlaw – free legal advice and representation for children and young people in Scotland.

• Disability Safety Hub – Accessible and personalised legal advice, advocacy and representation for disabled people

• The Equality Advisory Support Service – help if you have been discriminated against based on your race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability or gender.

• The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre – free legal support for women who are impacted by domestic abuse, rape, stalking, forced marriage or human trafficking.

• ACAS – offer advice and mediate between you and your employer in the early stages of work disputes.

• Shelter Scotland – free advice if you’re being evicted from a rented home.
• Home Owner’s Support Fund – financial support from Scottish Government to help you stay in your home if you own your home and are facing repossession.

• Register of Regulated Immigration Advisers – provides a list of all organisations which offer immigration advice and services. It is illegal for an unregulated adviser to provide you with immigration advice or services.
• Scottish Refugee Council – free support with visa problems and applying for asylum.
• Ethnic Minorities Law Centre, Glasgow – Legal advice from solicitors on everything from immigration, discrimination and human rights to representation for Asylum claims in the UK.

• Find out about your rights if you’re arrested in Scotland.

• Mental Welfare Commission – do not offer specific legal advice, but can support if you’re worried about a loved one going through a mental health tribunal.