NCJ Number
50997
Date Published
1975
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A GUIDE TO AVAILABLE FREE OR INEXPENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES IN ENGLAND AND WALES IS PROVIDED. BOTH STATUTORY AND VOLUNTARY LEGAL SERVICES ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE LEGAL AID ACT OF 1974 PROVIDES THAT OVER A WIDE RANGE OF LAWYERS' SERVICES A CLIENT MAY, ON PASSING A MEANS-TEST, PAY LESS THAN, OR NONE OF, THE FULL BILL. THE AREAS OF LAW INVOLVED ARE TRADITIONAL TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND THE ACT DISTINGUISHES THREE SCHEMES--LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE, CIVIL LEGAL AID, AND CRIMINAL LEGAL AID. THE LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME REDUCES OR REMOVES THE NEED TO PAY FOR WRITTEN OR ORAL ADVICE FROM A SOLICITOR CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF ENGLISH LAW TO A PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE AND POSSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. THE CIVIL LEGAL AID SCHEME COVERS REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS BY A SOLICITOR ON THE LEGAL AID PANEL AND ALL WORK PRELIMINARY OR INCIDENTAL TO THE PROCEEDINGS. CRIMINAL LEGAL AID IS AVAILABLE IN ALL THE CRIMINAL COURTS AND FOR APPEALS; IT MAY BE GRANTED EVEN IF THE ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY, TO COVER A PLEA IN MITIGATION OR ARGUMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE STATUTORY SERVICE, VARIOUS VOLUNTARY LEGAL SERVICES AGENCIES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO OFFSET DEFICIENCIES IN THE STATUTORY SERVICES CAUSED BY OVERWORK OR LACK OF EXPERTISE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE LAW IMPORTANT TO THE POOR. THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF VOLUNTARY LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: (1) LEGAL ADVICE CENTERS, STAFFED VOLUNTARILY BY LOCAL LAWYERS WHO OFFER ADVICE, EITHER FOR FREE OR A NOMINAL CHARGE, ON VARIOUS LEGAL CONCERNS; (2) NEIGHBORHOOD LAW CENTERS, NINE IN LONDON AND THREE IN THE PROVINCES, OFFERING A FULL RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES FROM ADVICE TO ADVOCACY; (3) TRADE UNIONS, CLAIMANTS' UNIONS, AND PRESSURE GROUPS OFFERING THEIR MEMBERS VARIOUS DEGREES OF LEGAL AID, ESPECIALLY ASSISTANCE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIMS AND APPEALS; (4) DUTY SOLICITOR SCHEMES, TYPICALLY AN ORGANIZED GROUP OF VOLUNTEER SOLICITORS AVAILABLE IN THE PRECINCTS OF MAGISTRATES' COURT TO ADVISE DEFENDANTS ON SUCH MATTERS AS PLEA AND LEGAL AID AND TO REPRESENT THOSE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE; AND (5) REPRESENTATION SCHEMES, OFERING REPRESENTATION EXCLUSIVELY BEFORE THE MANY TRIBUNALS, SUCH AS RENT TRIBUNALS, BEFORE WHICH THE POOR ARE OFTEN FOUND. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)