Legal Aid - What to do if your not eligable?!

Gooey

Hi we currently have legal aid and my partner (whos case it is) has just started working. On their re-assesssment they have decided we have too much money however they have worked out our wages wrong etc and because mine had a bonus in they think we earn literally hundreds more than we do! Im going to call them and see what can be done but if they say thats final is there any other way of getting help with legal costs as we simply dont have the money????

DigitalJedi

If you are not entitled to legal aid then unfortunately you are left with either going alone as "litigant in person (LIP)" or trying to find a solicitor who will do the work on a no-win no fee basis. The latter is all but impossible unless its a personal injury claim.

Am in the same boat as you and it sucks to be honest. Especially when the other side is on legal aid. It really gives them an unfair advantage.

Gooey

So what have you had to do?? do you represent yourself? ours is a family case.

DigitalJedi

Well the first time I paid for a solicitor out of my own pocket. Cost me a few thousand but to be honest it could have been worse.

Now I know a bit more, i'd be seriously tempted to go LIP along with a mackenzie friend.

If you post a bit more detail perhaps I or someone else can advise better. Do you mean family as in "child custody" sort of matter?

My current issue is more land law related so am using a solicitor again.

Gooey

Ours is for access to my partners son. How do you go about getting a Mckenzie friend? court is in about 2 weeks time! the hearing if a final hearing and will take a day this is just to gain contact at a contact centre.....