Sources Of Funding Flashcards
Own resources
If someone can pay their own legal fees, they are able to choose the best legal service for their needs, the person can negotiate a fee with a lawyer, the person can choose how much they want to pay in total.
Advantage: choose the best legal service
Disadvantage: may not have enough money left to cover your living costs
Insurance
Tax payer funded designed to cover costs of legal advice or bringing and defending a court case car insurance policy.
Advantage: long term coverage cost effective in long run
Disadvantage: can be expensive
State Funding
Paid for by government of legal cases available through legal aid, types of legal aid: legal help + family help w negotiating + drawing up agreements help at court and speaking on clients behalf, family mediation- relationship
Advantage: improves performance of parties , less time wasted
Disadvantage: may create a bias in favour of existing parties if the level of fund raising reflects past party performance.
Conditional Fees (CFA)
No win no free agreement, where solicitor and client agree to share the financial risk of taking the case, if case is lost the client will pay a reduced fee or no solicitors fee. The losing party will always have to pay the winners costs.
Advantage: if case is lost they will not have to pay their lawyer the conditional fee
Disadvantage: many solicitors who carry out cfa will not take on case unless the client has taken out insurance against losing.
Trade union membership
Provide legal services for their membership in industry related cases such as employment issues or industrial accidents claims , fund legal advice
Advantage: negotiate better pay/ working conditions
Disadvantage: high labour costs
Citizens advice
Provided advice on many issues such as employment, consumer complaints + landlord tenant disputes. All services are free but have to pay for phone calls.
Advantage: reduce stress, improves financing and stabilises housing or employment
Disadvantage: poor quality advisor, limited scope of work due to funding issues
Pro bono
Refers to solicitors and barristers doing legal work free of charge.
Advantage: encourages diversity of expense
Disadvantage: issues affecting enfranchisement
