We represent clients under a LEGAL AID CERTIFICATE, as Horsman Loader hold a contract with the Legal Service Commission to provide publicly funded advice and representation in all areas of defending criminal matters. We are also authorised by the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority to represent clients in the following specific stages of a case, under the Legal Aid Scheme.
POLICE STATION: Our firm can represent you at any Police Station and local authority investigation free of charge to you, irrespective of your financial means.
OFFICE APPOINTMENTS: Call our office to arrange a meeting to discuss your concerns, free of charge to you, irrespective of your financial means.
YOUTH COURTS: The court grants legal aid for a solicitor to attend court with you, free of charge to you, irrespective of your means.
MAGISTRATES COURT: The Government in 2006 re-introduced Means Testing for cases that stay and conclude in the
Magistrates Court, see below for Crown Court cases.
If the Court staff agrees your case on its merits justifies Legal Aid, they will then go on to consider if you are financially
eligible for Legal Aid in the Magistrates Court.
Those persons on benefits need to prove that to the court, usually by simply providing your National Insurance number.
Those persons working need to prove to the court their financial position by providing your last three pay slips, details of housing costs, etc, to allow the court to decide according to levels of income and expenditure, whether you financially qualify for Legal Aid.
Our staff can help you with such applications being submitted to the Court.
Details of the calculations the court follow to see if you qualify financially can be found at www.legalservices.gov.uk
If you do not qualify for legal aid, either due to your income exceeding the prescribed limits or on the merits of the allegation against you, please see PRIVATE PAYING.
CROWN COURT:If your case goes to the Crown Court for trial, you will automatically qualify for legal aid on the merits of the case, however after being means tested you may have to pay towards the costs of your defence, assessed by and payable to the Crown Court. This could be from your income while the case is on-going and/or from your capital, if you are convicted.
You will be asked by the court to provide evidence of your income and assets, if you do not, your contribution towards your legal aid can significantly increase, by you paying more towards your defence costs.
If your disposable monthly income is above a certain level, you will receive a Contribution Order from the Court and have to make payments as required by that Order, with the first payment due within 28 days of your case leaving the Magistrate’s Court and going into the Crown Court.
At the end of the case, if you are found not guilty, any payments you have made to the Court in strict accordance with that Order, will be refunded to you, with interest added.
If you are found guilty, you may have to pay towards your defence costs from any capital assets you may have. This would only apply if, you have £30,000 or more of assets, for example, savings, equity in property, shares, and any payments you have already made have not covered your total defence costs.
The Court will deal directly with you on these issues and at the end of the case, they will inform you if you have to make a payment form your capital.
