https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/the-essential-components-of-a-civil-legal-aid-application-forms-statutory-statements-declaration/
An application for civil legal aid should include:
For the duration of the Covid-19 period, solicitors may not be able to meet clients in person.
This means that legal aid declarations cannot be signed by people. There may also be concerns about sharing pens with people.
If you are consulting with people remotely, or have any other health concerns such as sharing pens, we can accept applications without the client’s signature in these circumstances for the time being.
In the online application, you can sign on the client’s behalf, and tick the box that asks you to confirm you have obtained your client’s signature. You can then say “coronavirus” in the additional information box at the end of the application.
Before applying for legal aid, it is essential your client understands the implications and responsibilities of this.
You should also ensure that they are aware that legal aid is not always free. Depending on their finances and on the nature of the case, they could have to pay:
Choosing the correct application form
All applications must be made using Legal Aid Online and providing the appropriate form that deals with the financial aspects.
Your client’s financial eligibility forms will either be:
Form 1
This is available on Legal Aid Online. It is for cases where your client is receiving:
Form 2
For all other cases.
Your client must sign the form, (unless you cannot get their signature in a case of special urgency and want us to consider using our discretion to allow your signature).
Providing an effective statutory statement
The purpose of the statutory statement is to:
Provided these objectives are met, there is no need for a lengthy detailed statement.
If you refer to sections or sub-sections of particular Acts, please give the reference in full.
You should describe in lay terms what your client is seeking by the action, as we may send the statement to someone who is not legally qualified.
If you do not wish us to pass on the address of your client to others in the case, do not include this in the statement as we send this direct to the opponent or the opponent’s representatives.
You do not have to set down every aspect of the case in the style of an initial writ.
If we receive a statutory statement which we do not think gives adequate notice to any opposing party, then we will ask you to provide a fresh one.
Availability of Civil legal aid and application procedures
Read about how the availability of civil legal aid for children, and the additional information that you must form a view on: ‘general understanding’.
Availability of Civil legal aid and application procedures
Find out the types of information to send us if you are acting on behalf of an opponent of an application and wish to dispute the financial info provided.