Legal Aid

http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/

General Information

Legal aid was initially set up to ensure that justice was not just for the rich. If you were within the financial guidelines and had a case with good prospects you would be entitled to legal aid and choose your own solicitor. However, the future is changing rapidly without many people knowing about the changes.

The upside is that these firms will have passed quality audits to ensure you receive the best service possible. It is hoped we will be able to have the Legal Aid Board' s (now known as the legal Services Commission) comments on this site in the near future.

.Legal Aid Franchise

If you want a family lawyer you can only go to a firm who has a franchise with the legal aid board to do such work. Although such firms have been audited to a high standard (legal aid franchise) it means that your freedom to choose has been taken away.

All green form work can only be carried out by those firms with a franchise. Indeed for Personal Injury, all legal aid has disappeared from April 1st 2000 with only 1 or 2 exceptions.

Legal Aid Certificates

Family lawyers appear to be the guinea pigs in the scheme by the Government to restrict spending on legal aid. From Jan 1st 2000 only those firms with a legal aid franchise can apply for a family legal aid certificate on your behalf. It is envisaged that all legal aid will eventually only be available to such firms.

The upside is that these firms will have passed quality audits to ensure you receive the best service possible. It is hoped that we will be able to have comments from the legal aid board in the near future.

Do I qualify for Legal Aid

We provide a useful guide through the minefield that is public funding courtesy of

more info about

Green Form Scheme ( now Legal Help )

This scheme entitles your solicitor, provided you were within the financial limitations laid down, to carry out initial work on your behalf and paid for 2 hours worth of work. This scheme also pays for the work in completing a divorce worth 3 hours. From January 2000 this has changed in that only firms with a franchise are able to do such work.

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