Hillary Cooper Law Limited

Legal support for people identified as potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery.

Modern Slavery legal aid covers people identified or being assessed as potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery, including referral through the National Referral Mechanism, related immigration matters, and damages claims arising from their exploitation. The contract was significantly expanded after the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with its own dedicated allocation. Specialist providers handle most cases.

Help with priority debts that put your home or essentials at risk.

Debt legal aid is restricted to priority debts where someone is at immediate risk of losing their home, essential utilities, or significant assets. It covers mortgage and rent arrears leading to possession proceedings, bailiff action on essential household goods, and bankruptcy proceedings against the family home. Routine consumer debt and credit-card arrears are not covered by legal aid; free advice for those is available through Citizens Advice and StepChange.

Possession proceedings, unlawful eviction, serious disrepair, and homelessness reviews.

Housing legal aid covers urgent threats to a person's home, including mortgage and rent possession proceedings, unlawful eviction, serious disrepair posing a health risk, and reviews of homelessness decisions where the local authority has refused to house someone. Defence against anti-social behaviour proceedings and disrepair counter-claims are also in scope. Funding is means and merits tested.

Civil claims against councils, the NHS, the police, or other public bodies for wrongful acts.

Claims Against Public Authorities covers civil compensation claims where a public body, such as a local council, the NHS, the police, or central government, has caused harm through misconduct, negligence, or breach of a duty. Examples include unlawful detention, social services failings, school exclusion errors, and serious data breaches by public bodies. Legal aid for these claims is means and merits tested.

Free early advice in county court when you face a possession claim, available before and on the day of your hearing.

The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) provides free legal advice to anyone facing possession proceedings in county court, regardless of income, at any stage from receiving a notice up to and including the day of the hearing. HLPAS solicitors attend county court on possession days and can be approached without an appointment. The scheme covers both early legal advice to prevent a case escalating and on-the-day representation at court.

Discrimination claims under the Equality Act in services, education, and public functions.

Discrimination legal aid covers claims under the Equality Act 2010 where someone has been treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic (age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership). It covers claims about goods and services, education, and the exercise of public functions. Most employment discrimination claims go to the Employment Tribunal rather than legal aid.