UK Immigration Lawyers
Database of 5,400+ UK immigration lawyers. 169 firms provide free help via Legal Aid for asylum cases. Search by city, filter by specialization.
How to find a lawyer in the United Kingdom
Our database has 5,400+ immigration specialists: solicitors, barristers and immigration advisers.
When do you need a lawyer?
Who is who
Solicitor (SRA)
Full-cycle lawyer. Handles the case from beginning to end — documents, Home Office correspondence, interview preparation.
2,666 in database
Barrister (BSB)
Court and tribunal advocate. All in our database are Direct Access: can be hired directly without a solicitor.
629 in database
Adviser (IAA)
Immigration consultant. Level 1 — basic. Level 2 — intermediate. Level 3 — appeals and tribunals.
2,184 in database
Legal Aid — free legal help
If you have claimed asylum, you are entitled to free legal help via Legal Aid. To get it:
- In the directory, click "Legal Aid" — you will see lawyers offering free help
- Call or email — say you need a solicitor under Legal Aid for an asylum case
- The lawyer will check your eligibility and take the case for free if you qualify
You can also find a lawyer at find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk — tick "Immigration and asylum".
How to contact a lawyer
Send an email or call. Here is a first-email template:
If a lawyer hasn't replied within a week — write to another. This is normal, lawyers are often overloaded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a free asylum lawyer in the UK?
In the directory, toggle the "Legal Aid" filter — you will see 169 firms with active Legal Aid contracts for immigration & asylum cases. Call or email them directly and say you need a solicitor under Legal Aid for an asylum case. The lawyer will check your eligibility and take your case for free if you qualify.
What is the difference between Solicitor, Barrister and Immigration Adviser?
Solicitor (SRA) — full-cycle lawyer who handles your case from start to finish, prepares documents, communicates with the Home Office. Barrister (BSB) — court and tribunal advocate; all barristers in our database are Direct Access (you can hire them without a solicitor). Immigration Adviser (IAA, formerly OISC) — Level 1 for basic questions, Level 2 for more complex matters, Level 3 for appeals and tribunals.
Where does the lawyer data come from?
Official regulators: SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority — 2,666 entries), BSB (Bar Standards Board — 629 barristers), IAA (Immigration Advice Authority — 2,184 advisers). All lawyers are licensed and verified. Each entry shows the source and update date.
How do I write a first email to a lawyer?
Use subject "New asylum case — Legal Aid enquiry". State your name, city, that you are an asylum seeker, your Home Office reference number (if any), the date you claimed asylum, and ask whether the lawyer can take your case under Legal Aid. If they don't reply within a week, write to another. Lawyers are often overloaded — this is normal.
What if no lawyer responds?
Don't fixate on one — write to 5-10 lawyers at once. The best ones reply within 2-3 days, but many take a week. If nobody responds — call Migrant Help (0808 8010 503) or message our Telegram channel (@asylumUK). You can also search the official site at find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk → tick "Immigration and asylum".
I am a citizen of Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan/Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan — can I get Legal Aid?
Legal Aid is available to any asylum seeker in the UK regardless of country of origin, while your case is being decided by the Home Office. Once you receive status (Refugee / Humanitarian Protection / Indefinite Leave), Legal Aid is usually no longer available, but basic paid consultations are inexpensive (£100-£300/hour).