Legal aid revoked

[worried1122]

Hi, I'm just wondering can help as I'm so worried.

I just had a baby and have PND, I left an abusive relationship when I was pregnant and it's been terrible my MH has been rubbish.

When I was pregnant I had to make a police report (several in fact about ex), NCDV referred me to solicitor to see about a non-mol.

I work but in topped up by UC, and I own a house with a mortgage but I provided the info and document from the bank that the solicitor asked for and they said I qualified for legal aid.

In the end I was too scared to go through with the non-mol as it would have been on notice. The solicitor said it was okay if I didn't want to go ahead and closed the case.

I only spent the initial assessment time on the phone with them and that's it.

I've now had a letter from legal aid saying my certificate was revoked as I failed to provide documents, and that I need to pay back £600.

I'm on benefits still and I'm off work on sat mat leave. I just can't afford it. I've been in a really bad place and I don't always open my post, I rarely leave the house.

Im just so upset and angry that I tried to get some help to get away from my abusive ex and now I've got this bill, I feel so upset.

I moved away when pregnant so I'm away from him now thankfully but just feels like one mess after the other.

Does anyone have any advice?

Suggest you speak to the solicitor first as it may be something they've done or not done.

That's how it works. They should have pointed out to you at the time that if you got an emergency certificate then you woud have your means assessed, and if you were made an offer of legal aid (so subject to contribution from income and/or capital) and didn't accept it you woud have to reimburse the LAA for your solicitor's claim for costs. When I last did legal aid work (over 10 years ago - the rates hadn't increased more than 10% in the previous 15-20 years, and as far as I am aware haven't increased since then) we always sent out standard letters to clients explaining all of this. IIRC there is a similar warning on the form that you sign.

Thanks. What is an LAA?

I honestly don't remember what forms I signed, I must have signed something but I don't know.

I've got quite severe mental health issues, solicitor knew this. So I guess I didn't fully understand? And still don't completely.

So I'll have to pay back this £600? It just feels like one thing after another and a reminder of an awful time in my life.

Legal Aid Agency. Look at the letters you got from your solicitor. They should have warned you about this.

Okay so I looked and I have some emails from the solicitor. I went to the NCDV initially so it wasn't a solicitor I picked myself, I couldn't even remember the name of them!

I do have two emails, they were from around three weeks before I gave birth :( they outline exactly as you say, that if I don't comply with request for more information from legal aid agency that I could be liable for costs.

They wanted information about my car finance?

I know i definitely initially provided the information about my mortgage, salary and benefits as requested.

This request for car finance info came about 3-4 months after I'd already told solicitor I wasn't continuing. Like I said I only had the initially appointment for the non-mol with them.

I was in a really bad place, I was suicidal during my pregnancy, under perinatal MH. I'm still not good and I can't even remember if I read these emails.

Either way I guess I have no choice but to set up some sort of payment plan with them?