Public Law/Care Proceedings

You will automatically be eligible for Legal Aid if you are a parent or hold parental responsibility and are involved with Children’s services at PLO level or should they issue proceedings for a care order or supervision order in respect of your child/children. This is not means assessed and you will automatically qualify for Legal Aid. Simply contact us to make appropriate arrangements for an appointment.

Other Family Law Advice

For Family Legal Aid, we cover the following areas: –

1. Applications and advice in respect of domestic violence issues
2. Applications and advice for children matters
3. Divorce and financial matters
4. Separation
5. Representation for children who are made party to private family law proceedings.

Eligibility for Family Legal Aid is means and merits assessed.  We can discuss this with you in more detail but we are likely to need the following documents:

1. 3 Month’s Bank Statements – For the previous 3 months prior to your enquiry.
2. 3 Month’s Wage Slips – If you are employed; for the previous 3 Months prior to your enquiry.
3. Proof of all Benefits received – Full award letters for each benefit you receive, dated within 4 weeks of your initial enquiry.
4. Copy of your Mortgage Statement OR Tenancy Agreement
5. Proof of any Child Safeguarding Issues OR Domestic Violence – Please note that this information will differ depending on the type of matter in which you are trying to obtain Legal Aid. Please contact our offices and speak to a family secretary who would be happy to advise.

For Housing Legal Aid, we cover the following areas: –

1. Homelessness.
2. Possession Proceedings
3. Eviction.
4. Antisocial Behaviour.
5. Disrepair.
6. Judicial Review.

To assess whether you are eligible for Housing Legal Aid, we require the following documents: –

1. 3 Month’s Bank Statements – For the previous 3 months prior to your enquiry.
2. 3 Month’s Wage Slips – If you are employed; for the previous 3 Months prior to your enquiry.
3. Proof of all Benefits received – Full award letters for each benefit you receive, dated within 4 weeks of your initial enquiry.
4. Copy of your Mortgage Statement OR Tenancy Agreement
5. Issued Proceedings – If you are defending proceedings currently issued with the Court, we will need full copies of the papers.
6. Current Value of your Home – If you currently own your home, we will need confirmation of the approximate value of your home.

Once we have this information, we would undertake an assessment within 5 working days. Please note that we would not commence your assessment until we are in receipt of ALL of the above information.

You will automatically be covered for free legal advice and assistance where you are entitled to a tribunal hearing. This is not means tested.  This includes legal representation up to and including the tribunal hearing. The types of tribunal hearings may be in relation to:

1. Appeals against detention under the Mental Health Act (1983)
2. Appeals against Community Treatment Orders under the Mental Health Act (1983)
3. Automatic referrals made to the tribunal

You may be entitled to means tested Legal Aid in other mental health matters where there sufficient benefit to you is justified. Such cases may include:

1. Hospital Managers’ Hearings
2. Support in applications made for discharge by the Nearest Relative
3. Issues surrounding medication prescribed by the Responsible Clinician

For means tested cases, evidence of income should be provided. We can understand that this may not always be possible and will always endeavour to obtain evidence on your behalf.  Should evidence of income be required we will discuss this with you at the outset.

If you are challenging a decision under Section 21A Mental Capacity Act (2005) in relation to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding Orders (DOLS), you have the right to legal aid without having a means test.

You may be entitled to legal aid in other welfare Court of Protection cases where Legal Aid is means assessed. Should this be the case, we will advise you about whether Legal Aid is available in your particular case.

Should you not be eligible for legal aid, we do offer competitive fix rate fees for dealing with the same.  For more information on Legal Aid, requirements can be found at https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid.