Civil Legal Aid

Question 1

Criteria

Answer 1

LASPO 2012 - Lord Chancellor consider
- cost/benefit of providing service
- availability of service
- importance of individual
- public interest
- likely success

Question 2

Availability of civil legal aid

Answer 2

• no longer covered tort/contract
• doesn’t cover trespass
• children’s rights + mental health now covered

Question 3

Means testing for civil legal aid

Answer 3

Based on income/capital of individual
Income support/job seekers qualify
Less than:
- £2657 gross income
- £733 disposable income
- £8000 capital

Question 4

Pros of civi legal aid

Answer 4

• gain advice from number of sources
• CFAs help bring case
• specific cases gain aid
• not rely solely on lawyers

Question 5

Cons of civil legal aid

Answer 5

• strict means testing
• CFA’s may still be unaffordable
• cut from £1bil 2010/11 to £739 mil 2018/19
• stretched budget for agencies
• paying for lawyers expensive - often needed in civil
• cant always give estimate of fees