Public Funding (Legal Aid)

You may be eligible for free mediation! 


OFM has a contract with the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to provide free mediation for people who meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • on Income Support or income-based Jobseekers allowance, and can show evidence of this

or

  • You have capital and income that are below the limits set out by the LSC. These will be explained to you by a mediator


If you qualify for free mediation the cost does not have to be repaid at any time in the future, unlike the Statutory Charge which may apply to public funding for legal advice. Additionally, free mediation does not ‘use up’ any Public Funding for work done by your solicitor.

All mediation meetings will be free for you if you qualify for public funding. 

 

Where children are involved this applies whether you are or have been married or not.

You will start with an introductory meeting, usually on your own. The mediator conducts a means assessment to see if you qualify.  You then decide if you would like to use the mediation service.


The Means Assessment

If you qualify we can then fast-track you into the scheme for free mediation and our private fees would not apply. 

All you need do is to bring in documents to show your total income for the four week period up to the date of your first individual appointment;   the mediator can then help you by making a calculation to see if you are eligible.

The specific documents that will enable us make the assessment for free mediation are as follows:

  • Everyone – Bring bank statements for the four week period before your assessment

  • If you are employed -  Bring a monthly payslip for the last month or 4 consecutive weekly payslips

  • If you are on benefits  (income based rather than contribution based)  - Bring the 4 page document or a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions advising you of your entitlement.   If also on Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit bring letter advising you of entitlement (less than 6 months old)

  • If  you are self-employed -  Bring working accounts showing drawings in the period and a copy of your last self-assessment tax return with a copy of accompanying accounts

We photocopy these documents and then give them back.

(If you have a new partner and are sharing income and expenditure you will need the same documents relating to their income).

If you qualify your mediation would be completely free, with no paying back to the Legal Services Commission at any stage.