Access to Justice 2.13

Legal Aid and Advice Act 1948 - Legal advice on civil matters

Green Form Scheme 1972

Police Criminal and Evidence Act 1984 - Duty solicitor schemes 

Legal Aid board replaced with the Legal Services Commission

• Responsible for managing CLS funding
• Role for delivering Criminal Defence Service (CDS) 
• Can make contracts with legal service providers
• Develop local services

Gives general Advice about the law and legal advice on Civil matters 

The CLS is funded by the Lord Chancellor who allocates them an annual budget 

The budget is fixed and they cant overspend

Because they are on a fixed budget ... ?

• Many people can be refused funding because money has run out
• Some civil cases have been exlcuded - Personal injuries CAFS instead
• Cases for amounts less than £5000 do not get funding either which helps to make their budget last

• Legal help
• Help at court - advocacy - legal representative
• Approved family help - Good advice and negotiation 
• Telephone service
• Community Legal Advice Centres have been set up around the country to offer people legal advice

Means and Merits tests

What is the Means test? - Takes into account the persons disposable income and disposable capital

What is the Merits test? - Assess how likely the case is to succeed and whether it is sufficiently important to justifying state funding 

Solicitor agencies and welfare institutions

Citizsens Advice Bearu - Free legal advice

• Solicitor agrees a fee with the client for their services... In addition a success fee is decided 
• If the case is won the solicitor will claim these fee's from the other side
• Loser pays the fee's

Cover a wide range of cases - particularly personal injury
Usually known as 'No win, no fee agreements' 

Run duty schemes in Police stations and magistrates court

Supplies advice and assistance on criminal cases. However limited to 1 hour, can include advocacy

Supplied on demand