What is Free Legal Answers?
Free Legal Answers is an online platform managed by LawWorks.
Individuals who cannot afford to pay for legal advice and are not eligible for legal aid can use the platform to ask a legal question and receive initial pro bono legal advice from a volunteer solicitor.
Areas of law covered by Free Legal Answers:
- Family
- Housing
- Employment
- Consumer
To be eligible to volunteer on Free Legal Answers a solicitor must:
- Be 2 years PQE
- Have a current practicing certificate
- Apply the pro bono protocol standards
Time commitment
Solicitors can answer as many or as few questions as they wish and can ‘unsubscribe’ at any time.
Insurance
All advice given via the Free Legal Answers website is covered by LawWorks’ professional indemnity insurance.
Anonymity
Participating solicitors can take part anonymously if they wish (e.g., their name and contact details will not be provided to individuals).
Accessibility
The website can be accessed at any time from any location, enabling pro bono advice to be provided when most convenient for the solicitor.
Support
The website is supported by an administrator, who can be contacted with any queries, concerns or technical questions.
Resources
Information and links to resources which may be helpful for participating solicitors are available on the website. Eg: an introductory guide to eligibility for legal aid.
Recording pro bono hours
Participating solicitors can log their pro bono hours directly on the platform. LawWorks can also provide reports on time and activity, if helpful.
Further information
An overview of Free Legal Answers including a short introductory video and details of how to register as a volunteer can be found here.
Questions?
Please email: [email protected]