How do legal aid lawyers work?

Legal aid lawyers assist with government-funded areas of law, such as criminal law, family law, immigration law and housing law. Legal aid lawyers get their legal fees paid by the Legal Services Commission and must make detailed notes about every piece of work they undertake.

Legal aid lawyers will need you to sign forms at different stages of your case in order to ensure that your fees are paid by the Legal Services Commission. Your solicitor will make you aware that if you are granted legal aid and you win your case, you may need to pay back your fees to the Legal Services Commission.

This is not relevant in all types of law: immigration law is unlikely to result in the client receiving a financial award, for example. In family law, however, the client is likely to receive some financial award and the client must use this to pay back their legal fees.

Legal aid lawyers must make applications to the Legal Services Commission who will decide if it is worthwhile taking on a client’s case. Some firms of solicitors will be able to make the decision on whether it is worthwhile undertaking your case without applying to the Legal Services Commission, though they must evidence their decision on your file.

In order for your case to be worthwhile there must be a reasonable chance of success and the cost of funding the case must be worth the eventual expected or desired outcome.

If you know that you require a legal aid lawyer, please call us on 0808 129 5763 or visit our page on legal aid firms. We list several firms that we work with who will be able to help you.

If you're not sure whether you qualify for legal aid, call one of our advisors on the number above or fill in the web-form - we will be able to give you advice on the matter.

Last Updated on 24/12/2012