Private Funding, Conditional Fees & Other Advice Agencies

• What is private funding?


  The person pays for legal advice and legal services, rather than obtaining governemnt funded legal aid.
• What is legal insurance & what are the types?

  (a) Before the event insurance - insurance taken out before the event for future claims, such as home insurance. This puts legal services in place.

  (b) After the event insurance - person insures against losing the case. This will be taken alongside conditional fees, and will mean the lawyers fees are paid and the winners legal costs if the claim is lost.
• What are conditional fee agreements?


  Agreements that solicitors can enter with their clients in civil cases.

  They cannot be used in family or criminal cases.
• What do CFA's do?

  (1) Ensures client only pays the solicitor if they win the case/

  (2) It will place a cap on the amount a solicitor can charge.
• What is the 'success fee' clause in a CFA?

  An added fee that a solicitor becomes entitled to under a CFA if their client wins their case.

  This amount is determined by the complexity and risk of the claim and is a percentage of the amount of compensation recovered.
• What is the rule in civil cases?

  The loser pays the winners costs.

  The client will have to take out an after the event insurance policy to cover the costs of the other party if the case is lost.
• What is citizens advice?

  A charitable organisation that contains trained volunteers & employees that give general advice on a range of issues.

  They can do this face-to-face, or over the phone.

  They can advise on debt, welfare benefits, employment matters etc.

  They also have arrangements with local solicitors who offer clinics to give advice on legal matters - typically free or cheap first session.
• What are law centres?

  Centres that provide free and non means tested advice to people living in their area, and advice/representation in areas where there are no/few solicitors.

  Funded by local or central government.

  Typically have a qualified solicitor working alongside volunteers.
• What are advocate units?


  Units in which volunteer barristers give free legal advice on a range of legal issues to members of public, who do not qualify for CLA.

  The unit can represent a person in any civil legal proceedings.
• What is the Free Representation Unit (FRU)?


  Provides advice & legal representation in social security and employment tribunals.

  Work is carried out by volunteers (law students & legal professionals in early stages).

  Volunteers are supervised by legal officers.
• How do trades unions give legal advice?

  They offer their members free legal advice on employment matters.

  Members will pay a subscription which will cover the giving of advice and representation throughout a case.

  Unions employ full time advisers and lawyers in behalf of members, and will cover the lawyers costs (in personal injury claims).
• How do charities provide advice?

  They will employ trained advisers or volunteers to provide initial advice and assistance.

  They can also telephone helplines.
• What are examples of telephone helplines that offer advice?

  (1) Gingerbread - offers advice on any issues that may impact a single/shared parent, such as matters of child maintenance, contact with children, education etc.

  (2) Shelter - offers local teams who give advice on housing issues such as homelessness, eviction, etc.