ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND FUNDING Flashcards
Where does funding for legal aid come from? (1)
the governments budget (a set amount is available each year)
how does an individual find out whether they are entitled to legal funding? (2)
they must show that they do not have enough money to pay for their own lawyer, their income and capital is considered.
how is disposable income calculated? (5)
starting with their gross income taking away:
-tax and national insurance
-housing costs
-childcare costs or maintenance of children
-an allowance for themselves and their dependant.
what civil cases make an exception for legal aid? (3)
-those involving children’s rights
-those involving liberty of an individual
-causes heard at mental health tribunals
what is disposable capital? (1)
means the assets of the person such as money in a bank or saving account.
what is meant by insurance premiums? (2)
clients will often not have to pay anything to their own lawyer if the case is lost, they will usually have to pay the costs of the other side. insurance can be used against this risk.
what problem does a CFA overcome? (2)
-the length of a court case is uncertain
-the cost of a court case is uncertain
what does a ‘cap’ on success fees protect? (2)
protects the clients from having to pay more than they have win in compensation (can mean that clients have no damages remaining)
what cases exclude legal aid? (3)
-since 2013 legal aid is not available for civil cases unless specific under the act or other regulations
-breach of contract cases
-claims in tort (personal injury and trespass)
what are insurance premiums also known as? (1)
‘after event insurance’
what is the success fee? (1)
the success fee could be up to 100% of the normal fee.
how do CFAs work? (1)
a solicitor and a client agree on the fee that would normally be charged for the case (also sets out what the success fee will be).
what is the main point of a conditional fee agreement? (2)
works on the basis that if the case if lost, the client pays nothing, referred to as ‘no win, no fee’. some solicitors charge half the normal fee and the success fee.
what does CFA stand for? (1)
conditional fee agreement
what is the ‘cap’ on the success fee? (2)
there is a ‘cap’ on the success fee in personal injuries cases which prevents it from being more than 25% of the damages that the client wins as compensation.
what are the ways of funding a court case? (3)
-own resources
-insurance
-conditional fee agreements
when can clients consult a barrister directly? (1)
on issues of civil law (can be cheaper as barristers don’t have such expensive business expenses)
what are the types of legal insurance? (2)
-‘before the event’
-‘after the event’
when can CFAs be used? (1)
can only be used in civil cases, not criminal cases