government funding for criminal cases

• advice and assistance at police station

  s.13 LASPO - anyone held a suspect has right to free legal aid

  no means test for this service
• advice and assistance


  duty solicitor at magistrates available to offer free advice to those in custody

  one hour of means tested criminal advice available from contracted solicitor
• public defender service

  run by legal aid agency

  offers advice and representation
• representation


  in order to get representation, d has to qualify under 'interests of justice' test

  likely to lose their liberty, livelihood or suffer serious damage to reputation

  case with involve consideration on a point of law

  individual unable to understand proceedings in court

  case may involve interviewing

  in the interests of another person
• magistrates court means test

  applicants either

  eligible for legal aid

  ineligible
• automatically pass means test

  on income support

  under 16

  under 18 with full time education
• means test

  calculated on gross annual income

  too high - not qualify

  below - qualify

  middle bracket - further means test (disposable income)

  above set limit - not get legal aid
• crown court means test

  most ds can receive legal aid

  free for those on low income

  those on higher incomes have to pay towards legal aid, higher the income, higher the contribution

  d not found guilty - any contribution paid is refunded