The decision in front of you
Private fees, even a modest retainer, are out of reach for many households once a criminal case or a custody starts. Searching “free lawyer” usually means you need representation, not a quote.
Cause & Case asks about income only to see whether you cannot pay. We do not publish that information. We also do not treat a low income, by itself, as a promise of representation. The cause still has to be one we can take, in a court we cover.
Other places that help
A legal services authority can appoint a legal aid counsel under its own rules. That system and this desk are different. If your matter is urgent, you can apply here and also ask the legal services authority. Neither application blocks the other.
If the dispute is a business, tax, or property fight, we are the wrong desk. Those matters need private counsel or another scheme.
How to apply without oversharing
Use the application form. Give a phone number and an email you control. Describe what is at stake in a few sentences. Upload identity and court papers only through the secure link after you submit, or when we ask. Do not email scans of identity documents to a public address unless we request them.
Related reading
Common questions
- Do I have to prove I am poor before anyone reads the case?
- Tell us the household income band on the form. If we need papers, we will ask through the private document link. Income alone does not decide the case.
- Is there a fee if you accept?
- If we accept, advocate fees for that representation are pro bono. Court fees and other third-party charges can still exist. We say so before anyone relies on us. If we do not accept, you owe us nothing.