S
Shanagarry
Guest
Hopefully someone can help clarify some questions that I can't find clear answers to on the legal aid board's website.
A family member is a defendant in a civil case. She was paying her own legal costs but then she lost her job and couldn't afford to pay future costs so she applied for free legal aid. She was informed some time ago that she met the financial criteria and the file was given to the legal aid office. She has now been sent a first consultation appointment with a solicitor and a Letter of Engagement. The letter also mentions the legal aid contribution she would have to pay on top of the legal advice fee. Does this mean she has been awarded legal advice (which I understand excludes court representation?) but still needs to satisfy the merit test for the awarding of legal aid? Or has she been granted legal aid? She has not received any certificate (are these usually issued by post?).
Any help at all would be most appreciated as the time this process is taking is causing much distress and she finds it difficult to get any information from the office.
A family member is a defendant in a civil case. She was paying her own legal costs but then she lost her job and couldn't afford to pay future costs so she applied for free legal aid. She was informed some time ago that she met the financial criteria and the file was given to the legal aid office. She has now been sent a first consultation appointment with a solicitor and a Letter of Engagement. The letter also mentions the legal aid contribution she would have to pay on top of the legal advice fee. Does this mean she has been awarded legal advice (which I understand excludes court representation?) but still needs to satisfy the merit test for the awarding of legal aid? Or has she been granted legal aid? She has not received any certificate (are these usually issued by post?).
Any help at all would be most appreciated as the time this process is taking is causing much distress and she finds it difficult to get any information from the office.