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0 Legal aid exists to help people access support with legal costs for urgent matters that are usually heard in the civil courts. These can be for criminal defence or for matters like abuse, housing, or discrimination. Legal aid exists to help people who cannot otherwise afford to access legal support.
Who is eligible for legal aid?
Legal aid is for people without financial resources for a lawyer, and in the case of criminal defence, it also requires the applicant to pass a merit test. A London Law Firm like https://www.forsters.co.uk will tell you that you must also be on a low income and have savings of less than £8,000.
What are the other main criteria?
The other main criterion defines the type of issue. You can get civic legal aid for issues such as debt, domestic abuse, eviction, or discrimination. If you are facing prison, accused of a crime, or in detention, you can get criminal legal aid.
The savings figure also applies to assets. If you also have over £8,000 equity in your house, you won’t be eligible. Your disposable annual income must be less than £37,500. Your eligibility will also increase if you are already in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit. If you have a partner, their savings and income are usually counted too, unless there is a conflict of interest in place.
The merits test refers to whether there is a ‘reasonable chance of success’, and it applies to civil matters. This satisfies the criteria that it is ‘reasonable’ for public money to be spent on it.
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