Dec 2016 | Small Business

Setting up and running your own business can feel pretty daunting

You may be an expert in your own field but in order to be a successful business person, you need to know and learn so much more! A lot of information can be found online or by reading books but when it comes to legal issues, then sometimes it can feel safer to speak to an expert.

Experts don’t tend to come cheap though so if your budget won’t stretch to costly legal advice then you’ll be pleased to know that there is plenty of free legal support out there. You just need to know where to look.

Free online legal advice

If you’re looking for something quick and easy then you might want to start online. Gov.uk is a website that is run by the government to provide support in a variety of areas. It includes tools for businesses and information on many related topics such as employing people, tax and pensions.
It is also worth checking out the online business forums out there which cover your topic of interest. While responses should be taken with a pinch of salt as they won’t necessarily have come from a reliable source, then can be a good place to start.

Other free legal advice

For more substantial or specific legal advice then you can visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Legal advisers may be able to give you the help you need, or if not, they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Another option is to search for any Legal Clinics held near you. These offer free legal advice and tend to be run by law schools to give students experience. Alternatively, they are run on a volunteer basis by law professionals.

Some business accounts will include free legal advice so check with your bank to see if this is on offer for you.