Free Legal Advice - Burnett Barker Solicitors

Accessible legal advice

At Burnett Barker Solicitors, we have adapted our services to help clients access low-cost initial legal advice at a fixed fee. We offer initial consultations in some areas of law as well as special fee arrangements.

Our Services

Wills & Lasting
Power of Attorney

We offer an initial free consultation on Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) creation with one of our specialist Wills Solicitors, who will help you explore your options.

Fixed Fee
Consultations

We offer a one-hour fixed-fee initial consultation on a wide range of legal issues. This is to help you find out where you stand and what your options are.

No-Win
No-Fee

We offer a limited number of so-called “No-Win No-Fee” arrangements for personal injury claims. These are special regulated fee agreements, where if you lose your case you do not pay our fees.

Divorce & Family
Settlements

We offer financial arrangements to some clients to help with divorce and financial settlements. This allows you to finance the cost of your divorce legal fees and disbursements for up to 36 months, or until your case is completed (if sooner).

Our pro bono work

We also appreciate, however, that not everyone can afford to pay for legal help. This sometimes gives an unfair advantage to those who can pay over those who cannot. We believe that access to justice and to legal advice should be available to all.

That’s why we participate in several schemes providing free (or “pro bono”) legal services. This includes providing pro bono advice to the voluntary sector as a member of Law Works and supporting Anglia Ruskin University Law Clinic students in advising clients on family law matters.

Below, we also detail some other local and national organisations that may be able to help you.

For Individuals

West Suffolk Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice provide free, confidential and impartial advice on a range of issues including money, benefits, housing and employment problems.

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Suffolk Law Centre

Suffolk Law Centre provides free legal advice on issues relating to housing, employment, immigration, family issues, personal injury and discrimination.

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Anglia Ruskin University Law Clinic

Anglia Ruskin University Law Clinic offers free independent and confidential legal advice to people with family and employment law matters.

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Advocate

Advocate, the national charity of the Bar, connects those in need of free legal representation with barristers willing to volunteer their time and skills to help.

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For voluntary and community groups

Suffolk ProHelp

Suffolk ProHelp is a county-wide network of businesses who provide professional and strategic support free of charge.

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Law Works

Law Works, of which Burnett Barker Solicitors is a member of, provides free legal advice to small not-for-profit organisations on a wide range of legal issues, to support the continuation of services.

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For Small Businesses

We also appreciate, however, that not everyone can afford to pay for legal help. This sometimes gives an unfair advantage to those who can pay over those who cannot. We believe that access to justice and to legal advice should be available to all.

That’s why we participate in several schemes providing free (or “pro bono”) legal services. This includes providing pro bono advice to the voluntary sector as a member of Law Works and supporting Anglia Ruskin University Law Clinic students in advising clients on family law matters.

Below, we also detail some other local and national organisations that may be able to help you.

We are proud of our pro bono work and how we have structured our services to accomodate those who might otherwise struggle to obtain legal advice.

Insurance and Legal Aid

Some people have legal expenses insurance as part of their car or home insurance policy. Some businesses also have legal expenses insurance as part of their business insurance package. If you’re not sure, read your policy documents or speak to your insurer or broker to find out.

You are usually able to instruct a solicitor of your choosing under a legal expenses policy (despite what your insurer may try to tell you).

You may be eligible for Legal Aid. To find out, take the eligibility test. If you are eligible for Legal Aid, find out how to claim.

You may be able to get Legal Aid for advice on finances, children or divorce if you have been in an abusive relationship. More information is available on the government’s website Legal Aid: What you can get – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Burnett Barker Solicitors are not members of the Legal Aid scheme. However, you can find a local Legal Aid solicitor specialising in Family Law on the government website using the following link:

Find a Legal Aid adviser or family mediator – Check if you can get Legal Aid – GOV.UK (checklegalaid.service.gov.uk)

For criminal matters, Legal Aid is available at the Police Station and sometimes at the Magistrates and Crown Courts. Our former Criminal Defence team is now practicing as an independent firm, Gallagher Law: information about legal aid for criminal defence matters.

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