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1. Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme

The Legal Aid Scheme provides legal representation for the "sandwich class" whose financial resources are above the upper eligibility limit for the Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme (i.e. $260,000) but do not exceed $1,300,000.

 

Under the Scheme, legal aid is available for cases involving personal injury or death, as well as medical, dental or legal professional negligence, where the claim for damages is likely to exceed $60,000. It also covers claims under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance irrespective of the amount of the claim. The applicant must pay an initial application fee of $1,000, plus an interim contribution of $65,000 upon their acceptance of legal aid. If your case is successful, you have to pay to the Director of Legal Aid any expenses and costs incurred in the case that are not recovered from the opposite party out of the damages/compensation that is awarded to you by the court. In addition, you will have to pay 10 per cent of the damages you receive into the Supplementary Legal Aid Fund. If your case is settled before counsel is briefed to attend trial, this percentage will be reduced to 6%.