Legal Aid
At JWP, we offer a free legal aid assessment for family law and criminal matters, so you’ll know for certain whether you are eligible for help paying for legal representation. Legal aid can help meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal. However, the circumstances under which someone may be eligible for legal aid are strict and limited. Working out whether you are eligible for legal aid can be complex.
Family Legal Aid
If you have received a Public Law Outline Letter “PLO” from your Local Authority concerning a child or children, or if the Local Authority have applied to the Court for a Care or Supervision Order then you will be entitled to “non-means and non-merits tested” legal aid.
In order to be eligible for legal aid for most other areas of family law you must meet the following criteria:
- There must be a family law legal issue that you require assistance with
- There must be merit in your case.
- You must be financially eligible in relation to both income and capital
- You must be a victim of domestic abuse or, in the case of a children matter, the child/ren must be at risk of harm from the other party (this requirement does not apply when you require advice or assistance regarding domestic abuse).
Criminal Legal Aid
Our high calibre legal team are available around the clock 24/7 to represent you at each stage of your criminal case from the police station to the Crown Court and Court of Appeal. This ensures you will benefit from consistent legal representation from an expert that understands your case, giving you the best possible legal defence.
If you are interviewed at the police station you are entitled to free and independent legal advice that is covered under legal aid, whatever your financial circumstances. If you are charged with an offence and have to attend court, you may still be entitled to legal aid.
Our legal professional will always advise you on the availability of legal aid for your case and will then guide you through the process of securing funding to cover your legal costs.
Get in touch to find out if you qualify for legal aid. It is completely free, informal, and confidential and will allow us to understand your financial circumstances, discover your legal aid eligibility and then decide what steps to take next.
If you are not eligible for legal aid, we’ll be able to discuss other options to take your case forward.
Matters for which you may be eligible for legal aid:
- Public law care proceedings
- Divorce / civil partnership dissolution
- Financial matters on divorce
- Separation (unmarried couples)
- If you or your family are at risk of abuse or serious harm, for example domestic violence or forced marriage.
- Non-molestation orders
- Occupation orders
- Special guardianship orders
- Private law children matters including child arrangements, specific issue and prohibited steps orders
- If you’re bringing a case under the Human Rights Act
- Family mediation
- If you have been accused of a criminal offence
Our solicitors will be able to advise whether it’s likely an application for legal aid would be successful. If you are not eligible for legal aid, we’ll be able to discuss other options to take your case forward.