civil legal aid

Prior to LASPO 2012, legal aid was available to help in almost all aspects of civil law- now only available for a small number of cases

No longer available for: medical negligence, welfare benefits, personal injury cases, immigration, housing cases etc

Is available for: environmental law, asylum, clinical negligence, mental health and child welfare, and judicial review

To qualify for civil legal aid, must pass means and merits test

Means test: gross monthly income must be less than £2657, with a disposable income of less than £733 per month. Client can have a capital limit of no more than £8000

Merits test: following factors considered are prospects of success, public interest, proportionality test and likely damages