3 Paying for legal advice

If an individual seeks advice from a legal professional, they usually have to pay for the service, although some legal professionals offer free half-hour interview services. It can be costly to instruct a solicitor and pay privately for their advice. Other methods of financing legal advice have therefore been developed. People who have limited savings and income may be eligible for one of the schemes run by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The Citizens Advice Bureaux and Welfare Rights Offices may be able to help with appearances at tribunals or for small claims. Some people may have legal insurance, for example, as a specific addition to car insurance or house insurance policies. Some solicitors operate on a fixed basis with their client. This arrangement is often used in cases involving personal injury. The Simple Procedure mentioned earlier is intended and designed to make self-representation (as a litigant in person) easier.