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The Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) is a network of three offices in Scotland that helps people with civil legal problems

Our solicitors can provide advice and representation to people with particular types of civil legal problems.

We cover Highland and Islands, Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh and the Lothians.

How can the Civil Legal Assistance Office help you?

If you are a member of the public and are eligible for the service then we can try to assist by:

  • Taking on your case directly
  • Referring you to a suitable legal or advice provider
  • Signposting you to other sources of help

Find out if we can help you

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Coronavirus information - visiting our offices and contacting your solicitor

We are not able to offer any appointments in our offices right now.

You can still speak to your CLAO solicitor by phone or get updates on your case by email.

See our update for full details.

Latest News

General

Research with recipients of civil legal assistance

26 January 2022

Independent research commissioned with people who have had civil legal aid or civil advice and assistance to explore satisfaction and improve experience.

General

Festive office opening times

16 December 2021

Please note our office opening hours over the Christmas and New Year period

General

Issue with our phones fixed

12 November 2021

An issue with our phone provider that was causing some calls to be dropped has been fixed

General

Upcoming research with people who contacted the Civil Legal Assistance Office

21 October 2021

Independent research commissioned with clients of the Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) and people who contacted CLAO with a civil legal problem.

General

Website unavailable briefly this weekend for server update

6 September 2021

Our website will be unavailable for a short time on Saturday 11 September 2021 to allow scheduled maintenance by our hosting provider.

General

Our Highland and Islands team are moving to a new Inverness office

31 May 2021

From 1 June 2021 our Highland and Islands Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) will be in new premises.