Will I qualify for Legal Aid to help fund my case?

If you are eligible for public funding (also known as “Legal Aid”) and wish to take advantage of this funding, a barrister should advise you to approach a solicitor. This is because barristers cannot do legal aid work unless they have been instructed by a solicitor.  

If you are not sure if you qualify for public funding and you would like to talk to someone in more detail about getting legal aid, you should contact a solicitor who does legal aid work. They will be able to tell you about the legal aid arrangements for a civil case e.g. when you are in a private dispute with another individual or organisation, and for a criminal case, e.g. where a crime may have been committed. 

It is unlikely that a barrister will be able to carry out the means-test required to establish whether you would qualify for public funding. You can find out more information on the government’s website.