If you have a problem that concerns your legal rights, or if you have to go to court, you may need to get advice from a solicitor. A solicitor can give you detailed advice on your legal rights and help you with your case. They can also represent you in court if necessary.

Getting advice from a solicitor

If you need legal advice, read the page about solicitors in our section on complains and court action. This page tells you all about:

• how to find a solicitor who's right for you
• how to prepare before you visit your solicitor
• what to say when you meet your solicitor
• how to get the most out of seeing a solicitor.

Shelter's housing law service

If you contact Shelter about a housing problem and your problem is serious, our advisers will refer you to Shelter's housing law service. You'll then meet up with one of our solicitors, who can:

• tell you your legal rights
• explain your options
• negotiate on your behalf
• represent you in court, if necessary.

If you need legal advice about a housing issue, for example, if your landlord is taking you to court to evict you or your mortgage lender is trying to repossess your home, call Shelter's free helpline on 0808 800 4444.

Getting advice from a law centre

Law centres are special firms of solicitors that are not-for-profit organisations. Sometimes they are linked to charities or advice agencies. Most law centres aim to help and represent people who are vulnerable or would otherwise find it difficult to get legal advice. You can find out more about law centres here.

In-court advice services

If you're due in court and haven't been able to talk to a solicitor beforehand, you may be able to get free advice on the day from an in-court advice service. These services provide free legal and other advice on a range of civil law issues, including housing problems, and they may be able to arrange for a solicitor to represent you in court. You can find out more about in-court advice services, including where to access them, here.

Legal aid

If you're getting advice from a solicitor, or your case is going to court and you need someone to represent you, you might be eligible for help in paying the costs through the Scottish legal aid system. Legal aid is money provided by the government to help people to get the legal advice and representation that they need. You can find out more about legal aid here.