If you feel that you are in need of legal assistance and that you may qualify for the legal aid service there are a number of ways you can start the ball rolling. Of course the underlying premise of the legal aid service is that it provides help for people in low income brackets who would not otherwise be able to afford the legal help, so if you are intending to make use of the service it should be advised that this is one of the first things the legal aid organisation will check.
Both the English and Welsh and the Scottish legal aid organisations run their own websites which have plenty of information on the services they provide and how to gain access to them. The Legal Services Commission (England & Wales) has a number of helpful leaflets and brochures online, and they offer a Frequently Asked Questions section. The Scottish Legal Aid Board offers similar services. If you do not have an internet connection at home but feel the need to have legal help at your finger tips, the Legal Services Commission runs a legal advice helpline for all legal questions and queries.
To be eligible for the legal aid service in both the English and Welsh and Scottish jurisdictions it is usually the case that you will first have to pass a financial means test. This is to ensure that you do need the help of the free service and would otherwise be unable to fund your own legal representation. The Legal Aid Calculator service run by the Legal Services Commission should help you determine if you qualify for legal aid. The legal merit of the case will also be factored into the final decision – if the case is particularly detailed or ground-breaking you may also qualify.
There are however some people that qualify automatically for help. If you are involved in a criminal legal case, you automatically qualify for legal aid if you are under the age of 16. If you are aged 16 or 17 but are still living with a parent or guardian and have no income of your own, you also qualify. Those under the age of 18 in full-time education qualify, as does anyone on unemployment benefits. It is important to note that if the court believes that you have obtained legal aid but would have been able to cover the costs yourself, you may be ordered to pay back the aid costs.
Both the English and Welsh and the Scottish legal aid organisations run their own websites which have plenty of information on the services they provide and how to gain access to them. The Legal Services Commission (England & Wales) has a number of helpful leaflets and brochures online, and they offer a Frequently Asked Questions section. The Scottish Legal Aid Board offers similar services. If you do not have an internet connection at home but feel the need to have legal help at your finger tips, the Legal Services Commission runs a legal advice helpline for all legal questions and queries.
To be eligible for the legal aid service in both the English and Welsh and Scottish jurisdictions it is usually the case that you will first have to pass a financial means test. This is to ensure that you do need the help of the free service and would otherwise be unable to fund your own legal representation. The Legal Aid Calculator service run by the Legal Services Commission should help you determine if you qualify for legal aid. The legal merit of the case will also be factored into the final decision – if the case is particularly detailed or ground-breaking you may also qualify.
There are however some people that qualify automatically for help. If you are involved in a criminal legal case, you automatically qualify for legal aid if you are under the age of 16. If you are aged 16 or 17 but are still living with a parent or guardian and have no income of your own, you also qualify. Those under the age of 18 in full-time education qualify, as does anyone on unemployment benefits. It is important to note that if the court believes that you have obtained legal aid but would have been able to cover the costs yourself, you may be ordered to pay back the aid costs.