Is it free?

Islington Law Centre does not charge clients for the advice it gives or the legal work it carries out. 

The Law Centre funds its work from a number of sources, including a contract with the local authority to provide advice services, grants from  the Islington Strategic Partnership and charitable trusts, donations and a contract with the Legal Services Commission (‘LSC’).  

We are grateful to our funders for the assistance that they provide. 

The law centre indemnifies its clients against fees which the law centre could otherwise charge.  However, it may be necessary for you to pay for certain items (such as court fees or reports) and/or to make a contribution under the Legal Aid scheme.  Your advisor would discuss this with you before any expenses were incurred.

Islington Law Centre is a Not-for-Profit legal advice provider, and is a registered charity . It is approved by the LSC, having complied with their Specialist Quality Mark standards in the running of the Law Centre generally and its expertise in specific areas of law.

Under our contract with the LSC we can provide specialist legal advice, assistance and (in some areas of law) representation in Housing, Immigration, Employment and Education. We also give Welfare Benefits, Consumer and Debt advice.

The Legal Help scheme can be used to advise on matters of UK law and to prepare your case up to but not including going to court on your behalf. In some areas of law such as immigration, you may be eligible for Controlled Legal Representation (CLR) to pay for the Law Centre to represent you at an appeal hearing. In others, to go to court you will need to apply for a full Public Funding Certificate.

You will normally qualify for free advice under the LSC Legal Help scheme if your income and savings are within the eligibility levels set by the LSC. This will enable the Law Centre to be paid by the LSC for the work done on your behalf.

Generally speaking you will qualify financially if:

 • you have savings and other assets of £8,000 or less (the limit is £3,000 for some immigration matters) and;

 • receive Income Support, Guarantee Credit, income based Employment and Support Allowance or income based Job Seekers’ Allowance.

You will also qualify if you are not getting one of these benefits but:

 • your household has an income of less than £2,657.00 per month before deductions for tax and National Insurance and;

 • after deducting amounts for the tax you pay, your rent, allowances for looking after your family and getting to work, you have disposable income of £733.00 per month or less.

These amounts are updated on approximately a six-monthly basis and amounts stated above are correct as of January 2010.

When you come to see an adviser they will work out with you whether you qualify. To help your adviser to do this you should bring to your first appointment all financial information that will help to calculate this such as your benefit book, rent book, bank statements, pay slips etc.

If your case requires a public funding certificate, your adviser will tell you if you qualify for a public funding certificate.  The eligibility criteria for Puiblic Funding Certificates are generally more generous than for Legal Help

If you are eligible for Legal Help or a Public Funding Certificate:

If you are eligible for Legal Help or CLR you will be asked to sign a Legal Help form which confirms to the LSC your personal details and finances and that you are giving accurate information.

There are different eligibility levels and rules for each of these forms of funding. Your adviser will also have to consider the prospects of success of your case (the merits test) in order to justify continuing to advise or represent you. You have a right to appeal to the Legal Services Commission if you are refused.

In public funding certificate cases, there is also the possibility of having to make a contribution to the costs of your case and repaying the LSC out of any money awarded to you as a result of winning your case.

If you are not eligible for Legal Help or a Legal Aid Public Funding Certificate:

If you are not eligible, your adviser will discuss alternative ways in which the Law Centre might be able to fund your case or will signpost or refer you to another agency.

For more detailed guidance on the different types of funding available to you from the LSC please go to the LSC website. This site includes the most up to date leaflets on public funding.

Community Legal Advice have a directory of solicitors and advisers who are approved and contracted by the LSC to carry out legal work in your area.

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