I don’t understand legal aid

[uiq89]

Can someone please help I feel desperate.

My child’s father is taking me to family court.

There is a long history of domestic abuse against me, violence, all documented by police/social etc.

I work but I am on a low income and get UC. Civil legal advice did an assessment and said I may be eligible for legal aid, and gave me a list of solicitors.

I have phoned so many of them and the response is that they “don’t offer legal aid to clients generally”. What does that mean?

I don’t know where to get help, I am lost. My ex has made claims that I am abusive, I have evidence to dispute but I am terrified of doing this alone.

I have phoned so many of them and the response is that they “don’t offer legal aid to clients generally”. What does that mean?

It means that they generally charge for legal advice.

What is your ex actually taking you to court for?

Okay, so I have actually paid for legal advice twice already but I can’t continue to pay, I can’t afford it.
And my question is that I was confused as the CLA which is run by the legal aid agency I believe, assessed my situation and problem and said I would likely be eligible, and gave me a list of solicitors that do legal aid in my area… but all the ones I’ve phoned from my area from that list say they can’t?
it’s very confusing

When a client is getting legal aid, the solicitor gets paid at set rates. These are well below what a solicitor will earn in non-legal aid cases. Indeed, in some cases legal aid works out at less than the national minimum wage. Some lawyers therefore refuse to take on legal aid cases.

If you go to Find a Legal Aid Adviser or Family Mediator, you can find out which solicitors in your area take on legal aid cases. Enter your postcode, tick Family then click Search.

This is essentially the same list as the civil legal advice has given me. I’ve call all the ones local to me and they state they won’t generally take on legal aid cases.

Try contact your local women's aid team. They would have a (normally very short) list of solicitors that would take on legal aid cases.

You need to find a list of local solicitors that do legal aid. As PP said, any local women's charities will be able to give you a list.

There's not enough money in legal aid for lawyers to even cover their costs never mind having cash left so they can eat.

Legal Aid solicitors are like NHS dentists.

They don't get paid much to do the cases and can earn more doing private work

Even the solicitors that do LA will have a max number of hours they are prepared to spend on it. It might be the ones you've asked have reached their limit

Although LA is possible and you may well qualify, it's never guaranteed you'll find someone to actually offer it

Where in the country are you? DH runs a legal aid law firm who only does legal aid, he might know someone in your area who could help?

Thanks this makes sense.

and yes to other posters I already have a list, which I’ve been given by legal aid, but none of the solicitors on there near me will offer despite being accredited

Thank you midlands

You could try https://www.flows.org.uk/support-for-women/legal-support-options for advice.

Have you tried Talbots law in Wolverhampton.