Who can be an independent legal adviser?

Qualified lawyers, which in England and Wales means solicitors, barristers, authorised advocates and authorised litigators;

officers, officials, employees or members of an independent trade union which have been certified by the Union as being competent to give advice and who are authorised to do so on its behalf;

for those working in an advice centre who have been certified as competent to give advice and are authorised to do so on its behalf provided the employee is not paying for the advice;

those specified in any Order made by the Secretary of State.  For example Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives.