Civil Legal Services Civil legal services encompass advice, guidance, and representation, excluding advice, assistance, and representation in relation to criminal defence services. The Lord Chancellor may, by order, specify that civil legal services should include services other than advice, assistance, and representation, falling within the descriptions below and which are not services that the Commission […]
The 2003 legislation provides for conditional fee and litigation funding arrangements. A conditional fee agreement is an agreement providing advocacy or litigation services that provides that fees or expenses are payable only in specified circumstances. This is typically a no-win, no-fee or limited-fee arrangement. A litigation funding agreement is an agreement under which the funder […]
Where a person receives legal aid and their disposable income exceeds £3,255 a year, a contribution in respect of income not greater than one-third of the excess or such proportion as may be prescribed shall be made. If their capital exceeds £3,000, a contribution in respect of not greater than the excess or such a […]
Legal aid in this context refers to proceedings before courts and tribunals of the type described below: Legal aid in this context refers to proceedings in the principal courts, civil courts up to the House of Lords; civil proceedings in relation to proceeds of crime in the Crown Court; certain quasi-civil proceedings in the Crown […]
The Access to Justice Order deals with certain aspects of legal aid and legal proceedings funding. It establishes the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission. The function of the Commission is to secure, within the resources made available and priorities set in accordance with the legislation, that individuals have access to civil legal services that effectively […]
Citizens Advice Bureaus are established throughout Northern Ireland. They are the primary agency giving advice in relation to governmental services. They are financed by district councils and central government. Most Citizens Advice Bureaus are staffed by volunteers. They are trained by Citizens Advice, Northern Ireland. They typically deal with social security, housing, and similar benefits. […]
A solicitor may enter into a written agreement in respect of contentious business, providing for their remuneration by a gross sum, salary, or other methods, whether at a higher or lower level than they would have otherwise been entitled to. However, a contentious business agreement may not validly purchase any interest in litigation, and stipulated […]
The Law Society has extensive powers to intervene in practices and take over the running of practices where a solicitor is in the firm or has been struck from the roll. The Law Society Council may initiate procedures for solicitors being guilty of undue delay in certain types of matters. The Council may impose sanctions […]
The Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland regulates solicitors in Northern Ireland. A person is not qualified to act as a solicitor unless they have been admitted as a solicitor in Northern Ireland, their name is on the roll, and they hold a current practising certificate. In order to be admitted as a solicitor, a […]