Legal Aid

We at Gibson Solicitors are happy to represent clients eligible for Legal Aid.

 However Legal Aid is only available to a limited number of people and is means tested.  Solicitors costs will not be met out of the Legal Aid fund until Legal Aid Certificate issues.  This means that all work done up until the issue of the Legal Aid Certificate including the application itself is not legally assisted.
If you believe you may be entitled to Legal Aid then our solicitors will advise you however we would ask that you bring with you at the first appointment evidence of your benefits together with 3 months bank statement of any and all accounts held by you and/or your partner.
You may not be entitled to full Legal Aid but the Legal Services Agency may deem that you are you to pay a contribution – generally this will be by instalments direct to Legal Services Agency.
In most cases where a compensation award or settlement is likely to be achieved it will be a condition of the Legal Aid authorities that any monies paid by the Legal Aid Fund shall be deducted from any award or settlement achieved.  This is known as Statutory Charge.  Solicitors are not allowed to release settlements to the Client until approval is received from Legal Aid
By and large Legal Aid will not cover non-contentious cases eg cases involving property where there is no disputed issue.
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