Legal support (taking action without giving legal advice)

This guide, last updated February 2025, clarifies the legal distinction between immigration legal advice (which only IAA-accredited advisers, solicitors, or barristers may give) and legal support (general information, practical, and emotional assistance that anyone can provide). It explains why unqualified individuals must not give legal advice — including the risk of criminal liability — while emphasising how much meaningful help is still possible, particularly given the current Legal Aid crisis in the UK. A substantial actions section lists concrete examples of legal support, such as gathering evidence, helping someone prepare for an asylum interview, reading refusal letters, and supporting detention planning, all grounded in the principle that the person seeking the right to remain should retain decision-making autonomy.