Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Terms of provision of funded services

17.—(1) An individual for whom civil legal services are funded by the Commission shall not be required to make any payment in respect of the services except where regulations otherwise provide.

(2) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances, an individual for whom civil legal services are so funded shall—

(a) pay a fee of such amount as is fixed by or determined under the regulations,

(b) if his financial resources are, or relevant conduct is, such as to make him liable to do so under the regulations, pay the cost of the services or make a contribution in respect of the cost of the services of such amount as is so fixed or determined, or

(c) if the services relate to a dispute and he has agreed to make a payment (which may exceed the cost of the services) only in specified circumstances, make in those circumstances a payment of the amount agreed, or determined in the manner agreed, by him;

and in sub-paragraph (b) “relevant conduct” means conduct in connection with the services (or any application for their funding) or in, or in connection with, any proceedings in relation to which they are provided.

(3) The regulations may include provision for any amount payable in accordance with the regulations to be payable by periodical payments or one or more capital sums, or both.

(4) The regulations may also include provision for the payment by an individual of interest (on such terms as may be prescribed) in respect of—

(a) any loan made to him by the Commission in connection with civil legal services,

(b) any payment in respect of the cost of services required by the regulations to be made by him later than the time when the services are provided, or

(c) so much of any payment required by the regulations to be made by him which remains unpaid after the time when it is required to be paid.

(5) The regulations shall include provision for the repayment to an individual of any payment made by him in excess of his liability under the regulations.

(6) The regulations may—

(a) include provision requiring the furnishing of information, and

(b) make provision for the determination of the cost of services for the purposes of the regulations.

(7) Except so far as regulations otherwise provide, where civil legal services have been funded by the Commission for an individual, sums expended by the Commission in funding the services (except to the extent that they are recovered under Articles 18 to 20), and other sums payable by the individual by virtue of regulations under this Article, shall constitute a first charge—

(a) on any costs which (whether by virtue of a judgment or order of a court or an agreement or otherwise) are payable to him in respect of the matter in connection with which the services are provided, and

(b) on any property (of whatever nature and wherever situated) which is recovered or preserved by him (whether for himself or any other person) in connection with that matter, including any property recovered or preserved in any proceedings and his rights under any compromise or settlement arrived at to avoid or bring to an end any proceedings.

(8) Regulations may make provision about the charge, including—

(a) provision as to whether it is in favour of the Commission or the body or person by whom the services were provided, and

(b) provision about its enforcement.