Public Funding
Public funding is available for the majority of legal problems involving English Law.
The following are excluded from public funding:
- Most personal injury cases arising from negligence, other than clinical negligence
- Cases arising out of carrying on a business
- Partnership disputes
- Company or Trust
- Boundary disputes
- Defamation cases
The two most commonly used forms of public funding are:
Legal Help: Under this scheme Duncan Lewis can provide general advice, write letters, negotiate, obtain a barrister’s opinion and advise if you have to go before a court or tribunal.
Legal Representation: This is required when you need to take or defend court proceedings and covers all work to trial and beyond. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) may impose limitations and conditions on the extent of funding. It is available in both family and civil cases. You may be eligible for criminal public funding through which we can provide advice and representation at a police station and in the Magistrates Court, the Crown Court, and Appeals to Higher Courts.
In order to qualify for public funding you must satisfy a Legal Merits Test and a Financial Eligibility Test.