FUNDING

hi all, i have been to my local c.a.b to get some advice about my appeal, they took my details,obviously to start funding prosses, now she says to me that the legal aid will not fund her to go to the tribuneral with me, can i go elsewhere and transfer my case over to someone who can help me and attend the tribuneral with me.

thanks

rob

Hi Bobbie

I'm afraid I was in the same position last year. I went to CAB for help with an appeal. Of course they didn't tell me that they do not provide hearing representation until the enquiry form stage.

I then contacted another advice agency and they told me it would have been no problem if I contacted them at the GL/24 form stage, but it's too late now.

There is no harm in trying to find another advisor who will represent you but most would be reluctant to take on a case that was started by another organisation. As Gordon said, many appellants have succeeded attending a hearing on their own, so don't let that put you off.

I intend to make a formal complaint to CAB for, amongst many things, failing to inform me from the outset that they do not represent clients. You might want to do the same.

Best of luck with your appeal

Derek

Actually some CAB's do provide representation at appeals under the Community Legal Services scheme.

Many others who were not CLS approved used to provide representation, but many local authorities have had to cut grant aid to CAB's, hence the shortage of CAB's unable to do advocacy work.

thankyou gordon, derek, and pata,1

just to say that tribunals do not have any preference as regards representation. They are fine with a helpful layperson or a solicitor. What matters is to be polite and helpful and press such points as need to be, and well prepared. With the use of the members guides on this webpage you can represent yourself or have a friend or acquaintance do it for you, if a experienced representative is not available to you. What is importamnt is to know your case and the criteria for the benefit you are trying to win at appeal, and obtain supporting evidence where neccesary such as from your GP or other medical evidence. Sometimes legal points become critical and it gets a bit more tricky but most cases are disputes about facts and are decided on the Tribunals impression of the paperwork and of the person appealing when they ask questions of them

The members guides are written in plain Ebglish and I think they are excellent.