For a defendant to be eligible for legal aid, which is free representation, they will need to pass the means and interests of justice tests. Legal aid is a fund provided by the government for those who cannot afford legal advice or a solicitor to represent them in court. The tests apply to defendants who are being held in custody and are awaiting trial for criminal defence cases in the magistrates' courts and higher. It allows people who cannot afford to pay for legal representation to be able to pay for it. This saves at least 35million per year on legal funding ever since it was introduced.
The Legal Services Commission is the governing body that grants the legal aid to applicants, granting representation orders in the magistrates to Her Majesty's Courts Service. Applicants who do not pass the means test, meaning they are not entitled to legal aid in the magistrates court, can choose to fund their defence privately. They can then apply to reclaim their costs if they are then found to be not guilty. These costs can be recovered from central funds which is a further source from the Ministry of Justice.
The way of determining whether a defendant is entitled to this aid is by using a financial eligibility calculator. This works out whether the applicant will be likely to pass or fail the test for legal aid in the magistrates court or pay a contribution if their case goes on to the Crown Court. The calculator will give a legal practitioner a good idea of whether the defendant is likely to be entitled to legal aid before the test is carried out at court.
When the test is carried out in the magistrates court, aid is only granted to a defendant who has passed the Interests of Justice test and does not have the financial means to fund their legal representation in the magistrates court. The financial means is the means test which establishes whether the defendant is financially able to fund their case. The means test will take into account income and expenses but not capital. Passported applicants will automatically pass the means test but will still need to pass the interests of justice test before they are entitled to legal aid. The means test establishes the applicant's income and how it is distributed between any partners and children. If the applicant's income is more than 12,475 and less than 22,325 then a full means test is carried out. This test works by looking at the defendant's disposable income after deducting tax, maintenance and other annual costs from their gross annual income.
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Legal Jobs - Top 10 Legal Job Opportunities
With new career avenues getting invented and newer laws being made to sustain them, there has been a sudden spurt in the number of legal job opportunities throughout the country. Quite naturally, legal jobs have become one of the hottest and most wanted jobs in the current scenario. High paying as well as up on the satisfaction level, these new legal jobs are being lapped up by fresher(s) and the experienced as well!
Heres a look at the top 10 legal jobs currently amongst the most popular jobs in US.
1. Law Jobs: Lawyers had never had their hands full as they do now! The opportunities as lawyers has increased so much and so suddenly that there is a serious dearth of skilled lawyers in the country at present.
2. Paralegal Jobs: If anything can get close to a real lawyer job is a paralegal job. Quite understandably, the job of a real lawyer gets reduced when paralegal experts come into the scene. Currently, good paralegal consultants can earn more than even an average lawyer! Some ex-lawyers have also turned to paralegal jobs considering the fat pay and lesser work.
3. Legal Secretaries/Assistants: Some might confuse them with paralegal experts but actually they play the role of a second fiddle to the lawyers/attorneys. Depending on their years of experience and expertise, they can get paid really well. Current industry estimates their average salary to be around ,000 per annum!
4. Attorney Jobs: Attorney jobs have always attracted people and it is these legal eagles that do the majority of the paper and on-field work while the lawyers fight cases in the court! In some cases, the attorneys earn more than even the best lawyers in the country!
5. Law Student Jobs: Studying law? Then taking up training(s) as law interns can give you a great insight into what actually goes about on-field. If you can find an internship under a good firm, your career will fly for sure!
6. Real Estate Attorneys: The infrastructure development is forever growing and this has resulted in a new breed of attorneys called the real estate attorneys who rake in quite a pocketful at the end of the day! The average income of a starter can range to a healthy ,000 per annum!
7. Corporate Lawyers: Bankruptcies, acquisitions and mergers if these terms interest you, you can find a good job as a corporate lawyer!
8. Medical Attorneys: The healthcare industry is still growing but not at as a rapid pace as it did earlier. Slow growth notwithstanding, the pay packet is rather fat!
9. Research Attorneys: Right from researching to protecting intellectual property rights, the job of a research attorney is a hell lot interesting than most other legal jobs in the list!
10. Celebrity Lawyers: From celeb divorces to suing media people, celeb lawyers are one pampered lot. They often rake in huge money but still find place in the bottom of this list because the number of openings are less.
Heres a look at the top 10 legal jobs currently amongst the most popular jobs in US.
1. Law Jobs: Lawyers had never had their hands full as they do now! The opportunities as lawyers has increased so much and so suddenly that there is a serious dearth of skilled lawyers in the country at present.
2. Paralegal Jobs: If anything can get close to a real lawyer job is a paralegal job. Quite understandably, the job of a real lawyer gets reduced when paralegal experts come into the scene. Currently, good paralegal consultants can earn more than even an average lawyer! Some ex-lawyers have also turned to paralegal jobs considering the fat pay and lesser work.
3. Legal Secretaries/Assistants: Some might confuse them with paralegal experts but actually they play the role of a second fiddle to the lawyers/attorneys. Depending on their years of experience and expertise, they can get paid really well. Current industry estimates their average salary to be around ,000 per annum!
4. Attorney Jobs: Attorney jobs have always attracted people and it is these legal eagles that do the majority of the paper and on-field work while the lawyers fight cases in the court! In some cases, the attorneys earn more than even the best lawyers in the country!
5. Law Student Jobs: Studying law? Then taking up training(s) as law interns can give you a great insight into what actually goes about on-field. If you can find an internship under a good firm, your career will fly for sure!
6. Real Estate Attorneys: The infrastructure development is forever growing and this has resulted in a new breed of attorneys called the real estate attorneys who rake in quite a pocketful at the end of the day! The average income of a starter can range to a healthy ,000 per annum!
7. Corporate Lawyers: Bankruptcies, acquisitions and mergers if these terms interest you, you can find a good job as a corporate lawyer!
8. Medical Attorneys: The healthcare industry is still growing but not at as a rapid pace as it did earlier. Slow growth notwithstanding, the pay packet is rather fat!
9. Research Attorneys: Right from researching to protecting intellectual property rights, the job of a research attorney is a hell lot interesting than most other legal jobs in the list!
10. Celebrity Lawyers: From celeb divorces to suing media people, celeb lawyers are one pampered lot. They often rake in huge money but still find place in the bottom of this list because the number of openings are less.
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