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Community Legal Service (CLS)- Civil legal aid eligibility
Civil legal aid eligibility
- Claiming for civil legal aid
- Checking financial eligibility
- The Funding Code
- Public Interest Reports
- The LSC Manual
- For more information
Claiming for civil legal aid
The LSC manages the civil legal aid fund. We use this money to:
- direct resources at the problems that concern people most
- through our contracts with providers make sure that services of recognised quality go to those who really need them.
Different levels of legal help are granted to clients who:
- have a case with merit according to the Funding Code
- are financially eligible following means assessment.
Members of the public should visit the Community Legal Advice website for free, confidential and independent legal advice.
Call the helpline now on 0845 345 4345.
Checking financial eligibility
Members of the public should use the Legal Aid Calculator on the Community Legal Advice website.
Legal aid practitioners can work out whether a client is financially eligible for legal aid. Please refer to:
- Volume 2F of the LSC Manual: Financial Eligibility
- Keycard 44 (April 2008) available from the Documents panel on the right hand side of this page
- previous keycards printed in Focus newsletter
- the CLS forms section
- the eligibility calculator in this section.
The Funding Code
The Funding Code was approved by Parliament under Section 9 of the Access to Justice Act 1999. It sets the merits criteria for civil legal aid.
The code sets out the:
- help that the LSC can provide through civil legal aid
- requirements clients need to meet.
Read more about the Funding Code…
Public Interest Reports
The LSC established an advisory panel to help our regional offices make decisions on cases that may have a public interest element. This can affect:
- whether a case is within scope
- how the merits, cost benefit and affordability of a case should be approached.
Read more about Public Interest Reports…
The LSC Manual
The Legal Services Commission Manual is a required reference tool and provides guidance for publicly funded solicitors in England and Wales.
Read more about the LSC Manual…
For more information
Members of the public should visit the Community Legal Advice website to:
- find a solicitor
- view information leaflets
- use the Legal Aid Calculator for the public.
Call the helpline now on 0845 345 4345.
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Last updated: 01 April 2008