Refusals of legal aid at law centre level

Managing solicitors have authority to refuse legal aid in the same circumstances in which they have authority to grant it. In addition managing solicitors also have authority to refuse legal services on the basis that the applicant does not satisfy the financial eligibility criteria. Letters of refusal must be sent to the applicant and:

• In the case of a refusal on the financial eligibility criteria alone must follow the format in Chapter 4 of the Administrative Procedures Handbook
• In any other case the format of the letter above, substituting the appropriate decision, grounds, and reasons but otherwise following the format exactly.

 Precedent letters available on EOS must be used.