Legal Aid Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Is Legal aid when using a solicitor effective? I need to hire a solicitor and my funds are limited. If I hire a solicitor that has legal aid would my solicitor work for me as hard and effectively as a paid solicitor? Would they fight for my rights just quickly with legal aid compared to a paid solicitor?

Answer: I cant say I've ever heard of a client interviewing a solicitor, as one answer suggests!! Legal aid is just one way of funding your legal representation. It is only available for certain types of work, and it is means tested against your income and capital. Alternative methods of funding include CFAs ("no win-no fee") agreements, or various different insurance products, it all depends what you need legal representation for. As for legal aid, the solicitor will still be paid, but payment is made by the governement rather than the client. The solicitor will still represent you to exactly the same standard as a privately paying client. However, the level of service may be less satisfactory. For example, for a divorce, a privately-paying client would be charged £500. In a publicly-funded divorce, the solicitor will be paid £94!! This means that the solicitor simply cannot afford to expend as much time writing and speaking to you.

Question: How many times can a person get legal aid? I got legal aid for a problem with my house but now need legal aid again for a completely separate issue regarding access to my children. Is there a limit to the amount of times you can get legal aid? I'm worried I won't get it because I've already had it once.

Answer: It is not rationed in any way. Some people seem to be perpetually on legal aid as problems mushroom. If you have any questions about legal aid, you can address them to the Legal Services Commission. http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/public.asp

Question: How would you describe volunteering with community legal aid on a resume description? Updating my resume, and having trouble describing volunteering with legal aid in a creative way. Any suggestions?

Answer: Volunteer work is generally entered below your work experience and special skills or certifications. Don't get "creative" just list what you did that was job/business-like in nature. HR isn't completely stupid and they see through fluff really easy.

Question: Besides legal aid services, is there any other way that I can get a lawyer when I don't really have any money? I am in a very bad custody battle, and I am going to need possibly two lawyers. I really don't have the money for them. Beside legal aid services is there any services out there that I can use to either get a loan for a lawyer, or anything like that?

Answer: Each state bar that I know of maintains a list of matters that they try and get attorneys to take on a pro bono basis. Call the state bar in your state (you can find them online or Google them) and ask if there's a pro bono list. It doesn't guarantee you an attorney will take the matter, but you never know. Another thing to try would be to go to a nearby law school (if you have one nearby) and see if they have a legal clinic that is open to the public. They perform services really cheap since the students are the ones doing all the work under the supervision of a licensed attorney. It gets the students valuable court time and provides you with representation at a fraction of what it might otherwise cost.

Question: How does one get legal aid in Malaysia? Where can i go for free / less than expensive legal aid in Malaysia ? I'm broke but really really need help with a case. Who qualifies for free legal aid, a student like me?

Answer: you can contact The Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur)/LAC to find out if you are eligible to receive free legal aid. http://www.klbar.org.my/legalaid/overview.asp http://www.klbar.org.my/about/contact.aspx 10. How do I get to or contact the LAC? We are situated at: 6th Floor, Wisma Kraftangan No. 9, Jalan Tun Perak 50050 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 60-3-2691 3005/2693 2072 Fax: 60-3-2693 0527 Email: lacklb@po.jaring.my Office hours: Mondays-Fridays, 10.00am-1.00pm; 2.00pm-4.00pm Closed on: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays or http://www.bheuu.gov.my/bbg/index.shtml in malay language only

Question: how do I report someone who is falsely claiming legal aid? I know of someone who applied for legal aid while living alone on benefits, then later got a live-in partner with a high income and got a good job himself but is still receiving full legal aid funding. Where do I report them to?

Answer: Ring the Legal Aid and tell them or write to them address and number in the book do it today you never know when you might need that service yourself. I have been grateful of it in the past.

Question: Can you get legal aid for a beauty treatment you are not happy with? It is for a permanent make up treatment where consent forms were signed. She is a student and says she can get legal aid. The treatment cost £300 and she wants £800 compensation. Im insured. But surely people have to take responsiblity within reason for the treatment they are having done and can't just say they don't want it anymore and so need it removed.

Answer: Hi Martini, If you live in the UK. This is a civil matter so just because she is a student does not automatically qualify her for legal aid. If you provided the treatment she asked for as per the contract then she has no claim. She will not be successful if it just a matter of she didn't like the outcome. She would have to show some kind of breach of contract and a loss or damage of some sort. It is the same if she tries to scream negligence. This could prove to be very expensive for her if she loses. Good luck.

Question: where can i find legal aid for international students in Dallas TX? I need to find legal aid for an international student (non resident) who is currently in Dallas, Texas. The dispute is house owner-tenant related. Pls help!

Answer: You should be able to use any legal services that lawyers offer. Assuming that it is small claims (up to $5,000).

Question: How long do you have to be without work to claim Legal aid? I'm in a contract job at the moment but soon I will be unemployed. A few days later I have a court case and need to get a solicitor. Is it possible to get legal aid at this time to get him to represent me or do I have to find my own funds because am really worried and don't think I'll be ablke to get another job in time to pay for a solicitor. Thanks in advance for answering.

Answer: You can get legal aid as soon as you become unemployed. If the solicitor dont think theres enough time to sort your case out, he will try and get it adjourned.

Question: Is it possible to work for legal aid AND a private law firm at the same time? For example, you can work at a private law firm and then be part of a legal aid association that gives you cases from time to time. Is there a legal aid association for disadvantaged people that hires private attorneys to argue cases?

Answer: Most firms allow (and some even encourage) their partners and associates to take on a certain amount of pro bono work. It is just a matter of asking the interviewer as to the firm's policies regarding pro bono. For more information on some specific firms, check out the following web site: http://www.probonoinst.org/about.php

Question: Can I get Legal Aid to apply through the courts for Child Maintenance? Has anyone represented themselves applying for CM? How does one go about it? Is it true the CSA are still rubbish at actually getting absent parents to pay up? Is contacting them an upsetting waste of time? If I cant get Legal Aid should I just give up?

Answer: The law changed in 2008, making the arrangements more flexible than they used to be. I've posted a link (below) to the leaflet that explains the position in more detail and should allow you to see how the changes apply to your specific circumstances.

Question: can a lawyer help to construct a representation of objection against an intimation of civil legal aid? ... my expartner has applied for legal aid for contact, parental rights and residence of my (our..grrrr) 2 children...my lawyer who has been previously in contact with his lawyer arranging contacts (which has now stopped on my request for good reasons) has now said that i can construct a letter of representetions about the applicant receiving legal aid....my lawyer says i need to do that myself...is there any legal reason why my lawyer cannot help me construct this?

Answer: I suspect becasue it's not part of his retainer - especially if you are in receipt of legal aid. I don't know what the representations are you propose to make, but unless they are specific to the test the Legal Services commission is statutorily obliged to apply, you're wasting your time. They certainly won't take any notice of your protestations that she is a bad person, or that has not much chance of success and those sorts of things. That's for the judge to determine, not them.

Question: Can you get legal aid to help cover the cost of an employment tribuneral? I was unfairly dismissed from my last job and have been out of work for 8 months. I have started legal proceeding but have used up all my finanical resources, I am now faced with a £6000 legal bill, which my solicitor has ordered me to pay in order before the employment tribuneral hears my case. Can i apply for legal aid?

Answer: sorry -- you will have to dig up the money yourself!!!

Question: Should a illegal immigrant be able to get legal aid? Just answered a question and just wanted to know something for my self. A illegal mexican woman can use legal aid which is supported by Us, state, and county tax dollars. If don't pay into a system and you are not legal should you have the right for this. Especially everything on applications is most likely fraudulent on applications. Help me with this.

Answer: yeah... call this number (866) 347-2423 tell them ur illegal. they'll take care of you... hehe

Question: How can I find free legal-aid adviser in Houston, Tx about resident lease issue? I would need to speak with a lawyer or legal-aid about this residential leasing issue that need to be solved. I don't want to make a BIG deal out of it such as paying VERY expensive lawyer. I am pretty sure there's someone in somewhere that is really affordable to help me with this and the apartment leasing issue. You know like "divorce lawyer", "bank lawyer", etc... what about residential apartment leasing lawyer? Housing lawyer?

Answer: You will have the best luck by paying a $25 "initial consultation" fee to an experienced real estate attorney. You might only get 30 minutes but you will know exactly what to do next. Many courthouses have "interactive guides" to give you advice for lease problems. You can get the Landlord-Tenant act at the Public Library..

Question: How can I find legal aid for lumbee tribe native Americans ? I need to find any info on Lumbee tribe lawyers. Any legal aid provided by the Lumbee for it's members, any lawyers either from that tribe or who do work with native Americans and are proficient in North Carolina law. ANY info on these topics, or about organizations who provide any legal assistance to Native Americans in the country.

Answer: I am a prepaid legal representative they represent everyone and will treat you like a million dollar client. Go to prepaidlegal.com