# Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) - Inverness

The Civil Legal Assistance Office is a Scottish legal aid organisation operating three offices across Scotland, with a base in Inverness serving the Highland and Islands region. CLAO provides free legal advice and representation to eligible members of the public facing civil legal problems, including those in Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The organisation stands out through its accessible, multi-tiered support model. Rather than limiting assistance to direct case representation, CLAO tailors help to individual circumstances by either taking cases directly, referring clients to suitable legal providers, or signposting them to relevant support services. This pragmatic approach ensures people receive appropriate help regardless of whether CLAO can handle their specific issue.

CLAO is particularly notable for its commitment to reaching remote and island communities. The organisation holds regular legal advice drop-in sessions across Lewis, Orkney and Shetland, eliminating barriers to access for those in dispersed populations. Their trauma-informed approach to legal representation reflects contemporary best practice in handling vulnerable clients.

The office delivers services through experienced solicitors and support staff, actively recruiting senior legal professionals and administrators. Their eligibility checker and three-step assessment tool enable prospective clients to quickly determine whether CLAO can assist, streamlining the initial contact process. This combination of legal expertise, geographic reach, and client-centred service design makes CLAO a distinctive provider of civil legal aid in Scotland.