legal Aid Flashcards
Access to justice
Access to justice programmes do what?
Provide people with legal advice and funding for legal fee
What does the LASPO Act 2012 stand for?
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act.
What did the LASPO Act 2012 create and why?
Legal Aid Agency, to ensure solicitors and barristers are providing legal aid services to the public.
What scheme does the Legal Aid Agency run for those in need of criminal defence?
The Public Defender Service.
What scheme does the Legal Aid Agency run for those whose rights have been infringed?
Civil Legal Advice Service.
What types of cases is government funding available for?
Housing.
Domestic Abuse.
Benefits.
Family Mediation.
What key type of civil case is there absolutely no government funding for?
Personal injury.
What does Citizens’ Advice do in terms of legal aid?
Give free general legal advice, mainly linked with welfare issues.
What do Law Centres do in terms of legal aid?
Give free, non-means-tested legal service; depends on the availability of solicitors.
What do Trade Unions do in terms of legal aid?
Offer all members free legal advice / representation for all work related cases.
What are Conditional Fee Agreements also known as?
‘No win, no fee’ solicitors.
Name advantages to the current access to justice schemes.
- Trials in Magistrates’ court are already quick and cheap..
- Duty solicitors protect suspects from police abuse of power.
- CFAs allow claimants to have proper legal representation for cheap
- Range of places offer free legal advice (no reliance on solicitors
Name disadvantages to the current access to justice schemes.
- Means testing is extremely strict; aid caps haven’t increased.
- Duty solicitors may not take job seriously; misrepresentation.
- CFAs only take strong cases.
- Civil legal aid has been cut by £1 bn since 2010.
