Legal aid is available for this type of problem

However, you may need to also qualify financially.

If you do qualify financially, you can speak to Civil Legal Advice (CLA), a national helpline for certain legal aid problems in England and Wales.

The CLA operator will check all the information you’ve given through this service.

What you need to check if you qualify financially

You and your partner (if you have one) will need:

  • recent payslips (if you’re working) and bank statements
  • a summary of your income tax and National Insurance contributions
  • details of any savings and investments you have
  • details of any benefits you receive
  • mortgage statements and a current valuation for any property you own

When you do not need to complete the financial assessment

You should contact CLA without completing the financial assessment if you are:

  • under 18
  • have capital trapped in a property you own or other money or assets that you cannot access

If you use British Sign Language (BSL)

You can choose not to complete the financial assessment online, and instead ask for a call with a BSL interpreter.

Fill in the 'Contact CLA' page. Select 'BSL' under 'Communication needs'.

Before you start

Alternatively, you can ask a legal aid adviser to take on your case.

Your adviser will check whether you qualify for legal aid at no cost to you by asking about your problem and your finances. If you qualify, in some cases you may need to pay a contribution towards your legal aid.

Find a legal adviser

Other sources of help

You can also get advice from alternative help organisations for issues related to education. You don’t have to qualify for legal aid.

  • Coram Family, Child & Education Legal Advice

    Coram Children's Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, their families and carers, as well as international consultancy on child law and children's rights. The centre's lawyers have expertise in all areas of family, child and education law, including domestic violence , child protection, immigration and asylum and school admissions.

    Helpline:
    0300 330 5480 (Family or Child Law), 0300 330 5485 (Education Law), 0808 802 0008
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm

  • Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

    Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) is a registered charity offering free and independent adviceto parents of children with special educational needs in England and Wales on:

    • local authorities' legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs

    • exclusions of children with special needs or disabilities

    • action or inaction by local authorities and/or schools whichdiscriminates against children with disabilities

    Helpline:
    0800 018 4016, 01799 526771

  • Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

    Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) is a registered charity offering free and independent adviceto parents of children with special educational needs in England and Wales on:

    • local authorities' legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs

    • exclusions of children with special needs or disabilities

    • action or inaction by local authorities and/or schools whichdiscriminates against children with disabilities

    Helpline:
    0800 018 4016, 01799 526771

  • Coram Family, Child & Education Legal Advice

    Coram Children's Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, their families and carers, as well as international consultancy on child law and children's rights. The centre's lawyers have expertise in all areas of family, child and education law, including domestic violence , child protection, immigration and asylum and school admissions.

    Helpline:
    0300 330 5480 (Family or Child Law), 0300 330 5485 (Education Law), 0808 802 0008
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm

  • Housing Ombudsman

    Free, impartial service to look at complaints about registered housing organisations.

    Get help to resolve disputes involving tenants and leaseholders of social landlords (housing associations and local authorities) and voluntary members (private landlords and letting agents who are committed to good service for their tenants).

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 800 2222 (Helpline)
    Opening hours:
    Monday, Thursday, Friday 9.15am-5.15pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 9.15am-1.15pm except Public Holidays
    Email:

  • Kidscape

    Advice, training, resources and workshops for children, their parents and schools on how to deal with bullying.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    020 7823 5430 (Head office), 07496 682785 (WhatsApp)
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Tuesday 9.30am – 2.30pm (excluding bank holidays)
    Email:

  • Advice Now

    Practical guides and information to help anyone deal with law-related issues in England and Wales.

    Advice Now is an independent, not-for-profit website, run by the charity Law for Life: the Foundation for Public Legal Education.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

  • SNAP Cymru

    Free, impartial advice, information and support for parents, children and young people in Wales who have, or may have, special educational needs or disabilities.

    Welsh translation is available.

    Helpline:
    0808 801 0608 (Helpline)
    Opening hours:
    Monday – Friday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
    Email:

  • Advice Guide

    The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice.

    Helpline:
    0800 144 8848 (England), 03444 77 20 20 (Wales), 18001 0800 144 8884 (Textphone), 08444 111 444 (England), 08444 77 20 20 (Wales), 08444 111 445 (Text Relay)
    Opening hours:
    Web 24 hours

  • Disability Law Service

    The Disability Law Service (DLS) provides information and advice to disabled people. DLS is run by and for disabled people as an independent, national registered charity. Disabled people and their families, carers and advocates can call the helpline for advice.

    Helpline:
    020 7791 9800, 020 7791 9800

  • Equality Advisory Support Service

    Equality, Advisory and Support Service (EASS) offers personalised advice on discrimination issues throughout the UK. It will help people who are not eligible for legal aid to find an accessible legal service or to prepare and lodge a claim themselves. If you have an employment discrimination problem, please speak to ACAS before you call EASS.

    Helpline:
    0808 800 0082, 0808 800 0084 (Textphone), 0808 800 0082
    Opening hours:
    Monday - Friday, 9am - 8pm Saturday, 10am - 2pm

  • Office of the Independent Adjudicator

    The OIA provides an independent scheme that reviews students' complaints against universities and other higher education institutions. This also includes academic appeals.

    Helpline:
    0118 959 9813
    Opening hours:
    Web 24 hours

  • Contact a Family

    Contact a Family offers information and advice for families of disabled children, on any aspect of caring for a disabled child.

    Helpline:
    0808 808 3555, 0808 808 3555
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.00pm

  • Education Rights Service

    This helpline is managed by the National Autistic Society to provide advice on educational provision for parents and carers whose children have autism or Asperger syndrome.

    Helpline:
    0808 800 4102, 0808 800 4102
    Opening hours:
    N/A call back service

  • Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline

    This free helpline provides support and advice to single parents on anything from dealing with a break-up, to going back to work or sorting out maintenance, to benefit or tax credit issues.

    Helpline:
    0808 802 0925, 18002 0808 802 0925 (Text Relay), 0808 802 0925
    Opening hours:
    Mondays, 10am - 6pm Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays, 10am - 4pm Wednesdays, 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm

  • Contact a Family

    Contact a Family offers information and advice for families of disabled children, on any aspect of caring for a disabled child.

    Helpline:
    0808 808 3555, 0808 808 3555
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.00pm

  • GOV.UK

    Public services information, online tools and signposting to all government services.

  • Education Rights Service

    This helpline is managed by the National Autistic Society to provide advice on educational provision for parents and carers whose children have autism or Asperger syndrome.

    Helpline:
    0808 800 4102, 0808 800 4102
    Opening hours:
    N/A call back service

  • Office of the Independent Adjudicator

    The OIA provides an independent scheme that reviews students' complaints against universities and other higher education institutions. This also includes academic appeals.

    Helpline:
    0118 959 9813
    Opening hours:
    Web 24 hours

  • Stonewall

    Stonewall is a charity that campaigns for equality for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. The website includes information guides relating to lesbian, gay and bisexual issues. The free helpline can offer information on issues such as civil partnerships, hate crime, discrimination and employment.

    Helpline:
    0800 050 2020, 0800 050 2020
    Opening hours:
    Monday-Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm