Shabana Bukhari 
In this blog, learn how to find pro bono immigration lawyers in your local area by searching ‘pro bono immigration lawyers near me’ for free or how to get low-cost legal aid. We will begin with a discussion on legal aid and then turn to discuss pro bono work, looking at the respective benefits and eligibility criteria.
What is legal aid?
Legal aid is designed to aid those who are unable to afford legal help due to financial strain. It is key that individuals get access to justice and so legal aid ensures this by helping individuals cover some or all their legal costs. Unlike pro bono work, which will be discussed below, legal aid does not always cover all your legal costs so be wary!
However, following LASPO (Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012) there has been a significant reduction in civil legal aid available for British immigration law matters. This has significantly impacted the scope of immigration law cases which are eligible.
Am I eligible for legal aid?
Whether you are eligible for immigration legal aid depends on the case you have and financial circumstances you are under. The easiest way to see whether you pass under this eligibility criteria, follow this link: Legal aid: Eligibility – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
By following the link above you will be asked various questions about your current financial circumstances, including your disposable income and capital, as well as what your British immigration law case is about.
Note prior to checking your eligibility criteria ensure that your income before tax (gross income) is £2,657 or below. However, if you have more than four children add an additional £222.
Once you have answered all the questions you will be given an accurate eligibility answer.
What are pro bono immigration lawyers?
Pro bono immigration lawyers provide legal services for free. For this reason, these services are often provided by big city law firms rather than smaller law firms. They do this work in the public interest for those who are unable to afford it and where legal aid is not available to cover the costs of the legal representation.
Lawyers who undertake pro bono work do not get paid for it.
What are the benefits to hiring a pro bono immigration lawyer?
Other than it being free of charge, which is a huge benefit to many, there are many other benefits to hiring a pro bono immigration lawyer:
- They will have a grasp on what is the best route for you and as immigration law is extremely fastest changing, they will have knowledge of all the latest developments in that area. Pro bono lawyers can guide you through which route is quickest and most likely to be a success.
- If your case is complex and requires an appeal to the immigration tribunal it is important to seek a pro bono immigration lawyer’s services. This is because it is pertinent you have someone on your behalf to prepare evidence bundles and represent you.
- They will translate complex legal terms concisely making it easily digestible for their clients who may either have no knowledge of immigration law or where English is not their native language.
How do I locate pro bono immigration lawyers near me?
The easiest way to locate pro bono immigration lawyers near your location is to use this website: LawWorks | The Solicitors Pro Bono Group. This is a charity which connects individuals unable to afford legal advice to pro bono lawyers in the area. They provide lists of places which have pro bono lawyers available to help with your case. Also, they remind individuals to check the eligibility criteria.
Another website which can help you see pro bono immigration lawyers near you is the following: https://www.lawcentres.org.uk/about-law-centres/law-centres-on-google-maps/geographically . Here, you are able to either select on a Google map of the UK or type in your postcode, and a list of pro bono lawyers will be provided near you.
Finally, another link to follow: National Pro Bono Centre which again helps you connect with pro bono lawyers.
FAQs
What is legal aid?
Legal aid is designed to aid those who are unable to afford legal help due to financial strain. It is key that individuals get access to justice and so legal aid ensures this by helping individuals cover some or all their legal costs.
What key factor do I need to think about when considering my eligibility for legal aid?
The key factor that you must think about when considering my eligibility for legal aid is your financial circumstances. This is because when applying you will have to answer many questions on your gross and disposable income or capital.
What do pro bono lawyers do?
Other than pro bono lawyers giving their services free of charge. They also maintain a high level of accuracy when completing your application and ensure that you as the client are informed. By completing application forms this avoids a mistake which you negatively affect the success. They can provide advice on various applications and appeals with your best interests in mind and any time constraints on your part.
What websites am I able to use to locate pro bono lawyers near my location?
Some websites which you can use to locate pro bono lawyers near your location include LawWorks | The Solicitors Pro Bono Group, https://www.lawcentres.org.uk/about-law-centres/law-centres-on-google-maps/geographically and National Pro Bono Centre.
Where should I start when thinking about hiring a pro bono lawyer near me?
Begin by searching online or on social media for lists of ‘pro bono lawyers near me’. Once you have selected a range of lawyers in your area then you can browse their websites and reviews.
How long will it take me to find a reliable pro bono lawyer in my area?
This process can be fast with some online researching and reading of reviews.
Will my case be successful with a pro bono lawyer?
This is highly dependable as the UKVI makes the final decision on your application which a pro bono lawyer has no control over. But by ensuring that the attorney you are entrusting is experienced by doing your research online and reading reviews. Their legal advice and expertise have various benefits, such as minimising the risk of rejection and therefore increasing your chances of success compared to acting independently.
Summary
The work of legal aid and pro bono lawyers play in enabling access justice is a key one. In this blog individuals have learnt how to locate pro bono immigration lawyers near your location for free or low-cost legal aid.
Please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for advice on this matter or any other immigration law issue.
