Looking for advice for an issue at work? You can use this page to find charities that offer independent legal advice.
Many of these charities offer at least one session of advice for free, or low-cost advice services. However, there's no guarantee that they'll be able to see you as many of these charities are very stretched.
The information on this page is up to date to the best of our knowledge as of November 2024. It's not a comprehensive list of all employment advice providers in London, but of the organisations we are aware of.
If you’re currently facing an employment problem, you can:
- Read through our FAQs below to find out about what sort of help you can get.
- Read this guide to how to deal with an issue at work, and the steps you can take.
- Skip to the list of organisations that can help.
FAQs about employment advice
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“Help” with employment problems includes:
- A one-off advice session over the phone or on Teams with a qualified lawyer, an adviser with employment law expertise or a volunteer. The aim is to help you work out whether your work problem is a legal issue and what your options are to resolve the problem.
- Casework where an organisation works with you to help you try and resolve your problem.
- Advocacy support where an organisation helps support you or speak on your behalf at an Employment Tribunal or a mediation. A mediation is where a third party helps you and your employer (maybe your line manager or work colleague) find solutions to your problems at work. Sometimes mediators are within organisations. Sometimes they are external. Sometimes they are judges.
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It usually depends on where you live or work, what the issue is and where you come from.
- If you live in a London borough, there may be services in your borough.
- If you live or work in London, there may be services for all Londoners that you can use.
- Wherever you live and work (in or out of London) there may be national services you can use.
- Some organisations help with specialist services e.g. maternity issues or whistleblowing cases.
- Some provide services for migrant workers.
Some offer free advocacy help but their services are very much in demand, and they can’t help everybody. Usually you will need to contact these charities [at least 8 weeks] before the hearing date and even then there is no guarantee of assistance.
Skip to the list of organisations who might be able to help you.
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Most people have to pay for legal help with employment problems. You can find a solicitor to help you here.
The organisations listed here provide some help for free. Usually, this help is a one off advice session. They might offer casework help for free on limited occasions. Some offer casework help for a fixed fee or for a low cost.
If your workplace problem relates to discrimination and you and your partner are low earners and have very few savings, you might be eligible for legal aid. This is government financial support for an employment law problem. You can check here but most people won’t meet the criteria.
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No. The charities listed below are very busy and overstretched. You may have to wait a long time for help.
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Yes, if you are planning to bring a claim to an Employment Tribunal.
You usually have 3 months less 1 day from the issue you are complaining about to bring a claim in an Employment Tribunal. See here for more information on time limits.
Take care not to miss this time limit even if that means putting in an application to an Employment Tribunal without any help. To start this process you should let ACAS know (see below).
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Yes.
You should let ACAS know that you wish to start a claim using the information on this link. Make sure you do this within the strict time limits (as above). The Employment Tribunal process can seem complicated so try to be as prepared as possible. You will need to describe your problem at work and think about how you will show evidence of your problem.
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Read Citizens Advices' useful guide to employment tribunals, including what to consider before you go to tribunal, how to manage the process and what to expect.
Some videos are available that are designed to help you understand the process:
Local advice services
In some London boroughs, local charities will provide free employment advice to people who live or work in the borough.
Click on your borough below to see information about advice providers.
Currently, we're not aware of any employment rights advice organisations in Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond or Waltham Forest.
If you live or work in one of these boroughs, scroll down to London-wide services.
Greenwich University Legal Advice Centre
A free legal advice clinic run by the School of Law & Criminology. Usually provide 8-10 employment advice sessions per month.
What they offer: Verbal advice in an online session, which will then be confirmed in an advice letter. If a case is particularly urgent and they are unable to assist, they will provide referrals to other organisations.
Find out more and request an appointment.
Plumstead Community Law Centre
Who they support: Residents, workers and students of Greenwich Borough.
What they offer: Free advice, and they may offer ongoing support or casework.
Citizens Advice East End
Who they support: People residing, working or studying in Hackney, Tower hamlets or Newham.
What they offer: Initial advice
Visit website to find out more and how to get in touch.
University House Legal Advice Centre
Who they support: People living in E1, E2 or E3 postcodes. (Website just says NEwham/Hackney/Tower Hamlets? And can't see mention of clinic? Should I just leave as this?)
What they offer: Free initial advice
Get in touch: Visit website to complete an online form.
Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre
Who they support: Prioritise people local to Hammersmith & Fulham and those on low-incomes
What they offer: Initial advice and signposting. Sometimes they will be able to provide ongoing support and advocacy.
Get in touch: Visit website to find out about its employment advice service. You can email reception@hflaw.org.uk or call 020 3880 1727.
Citizens Advice Havering
Who they support: People residing, working or studying in Havering.
What they offer: Initial advice over the phone, by email or in person.
Get in touch: Visit website.
North Kensington Law Centre
Employment Advice line: Mondays, 2-4pm. Call 020 8638 7429.
Visit website to learn more about what they offer and get in touch.
Citizens Advice East End
Who they support: People residing, working or studying in Hackney, Tower hamlets or Newham.
What they offer: Initial advice
Visit website to find out more and how to get in touch.
Newham Employment Rights Hub
Who they support: Residents of Newham.
What they offer: Free confidential support and advice.
Get in touch: Call 020 3373 6494, or email employmentrights@newham.gov.uk. Visit website.
University House Legal Advice Centre
Who they support: People living in E1, E2 or E3 postcodes. (Website just says NEwham/Hackney/Tower Hamlets? And can't see mention of clinic? Should I just leave as this?)
What they offer: Free initial advice
Get in touch: Visit website to complete an online form.
Citizens Advice Redbridge
Who they support: Redbridge residents
What they offer: Free general advice
Get in touch: Visit website
Citizens Advice Southwark
Who they support: People residing, working or studying in Hackney, Tower hamlets or Newham.
They may refer you to Southwark Law Centre, who are able to help Southwark residents with issues they face at work.
Please note: Southwark Law Centre don't take direct referrals. You need to be referred by an organisation such as Citizens Advice Southwark.
Visit Citizens Advice Southwark's website and book an appointment.
Sutton Citizens Advice
Who they support: People who live in Sutton.
What they offer: Generalist advice. This means they may be able to give you some information about your rights and the process, but they can't provide legal advice. They may also signpost you to helpful resources.
Tower Hamlets Law Centre
A free advice service located in the East End.
What they offer: Initial advice. They may be able to offer tribunal representation and mediation, but have stricter eligibility requirements for this.
Citizens Advice East End
Who they support: People residing, working or studying in Hackney, Tower hamlets or Newham.
What they offer: Initial advice
Visit website to find out more and how to get in touch.
University House Legal Advice Centre
Who they support: People living in E1, E2 or E3 postcodes. (Website just says NEwham/Hackney/Tower Hamlets? And can't see mention of clinic? Should I just leave as this?)
What they offer: Free initial advice
Get in touch: Visit website to complete an online form.
Citizens Advice Wandsworth
Who they support: People living, working or studying in Wandsworth
What they offer: Free initial legal advice
Get in touch: Phone 0808 278 7833 Monday to Friday between 10am-4pm or complete an online form. Visit website to find out more.
Citizens Advice Westminster
Who they support: Residents of Westminster
What they offer: Free legal advice and information
Get in touch: Phone 0808 278 7834 Monday-Friday 10am-4pm or submit an online enquiry. Visit website to find out more.
University of Westminster Legal Advice Clinic
Who they support: Prioritise people who are not eligible for legal aid and can't afford to pay for legal advice
What they offer: Free legal advice session, either online or face to face.
Get in touch: Visit website to find out about their employment legal advice clinic and request an appointment.
London-wide advice services
City Community Legal Advice Centre
Free confidential legal advice. Visit website to get in touch.
Employment Law for London
Free 30-minute telephone advice appointment for all London residents, run by BPP Law School and South West London Law Centres. Call 0207 633 4534 or visit website.
South West London Law Centres
Legal advice for all Londoners. Free initial advice appointment for those with an income of below £45,000. Visit website to find out more and get in touch.
Toynbee Hall
Offer free legal services for Londoners. Visit its website to find out more and request an appointment.
National advice services
Disability Law Service
Provides free legal advice to Disabled people. Visit website to find out more and get in touch.
Islamophobia Response Unit
Who they support: People who've been subjected to Islamophobic hate crime.
What they offer: Support and advice.
Get in touch: Fill in its online form or call its helpline.
Latin American Women's Rights Service
Who they support: Latin American women in the UK.
What they offer: Free and confidential advice over the phone.
Get in touch: Call its helpline - visit website for more information.
Maternity Action
Who they support: Pregnant women and new parents in the UK.
What they offer: Free advice.
Get in touch: Visit website.
Protect
Who they support: Whistleblowers in the UK.
What they offer: A free advice line for employees. Its website also has a number of legal guides.
Get in touch: Fill out this online form or call 0203 117 2520.
Rights of Women
Who they support: Women in England and Wales experiencing sexual harassment at work.
What they offer: Free employment legal advice over the phone.
Get in touch: By phone Mon-Weds (6-8pm) and Fri (10am-12pm). Visit website.
Royal National Institute of Blind People
Who they support: Blind and partially sighted people
What they offer: Legal rights information, advice and where possible formal representation to blind and partially sighted people who are looking to challenge a decision or a discrimination.
Visit here for more information.
Working Families
Who they support: Working parents and carers.
What they offer: Free detailed initial advice. In some cases can offer some ongoing support.
Get in touch: Fill out the advice contact form on its website. They aim to get back to all queries in 10 working days.
Work Rights Centre
Who they support: Migrants and disadvantaged Londoners.
What they offer: Free advice clinics. Due to high demand, it has limited capacity to assist with new enquiries, but may be able to offer a one-time phone consultation. In limited cases, it may provide representation.
Get in touch: Visit website.
YESS Law
Who they support: Anyone nationwide
What they offer: One-off advice is free, via a 20 minute phone-call. It can take up to 2 weeks to hear back.
Get in touch: Visit YESS Law's website to find out how to get support.