If you have experienced medical negligence, a personal injury (which includes an accident at work or occupational disease), or are undergoing an employment dispute (at pre or tribunal stage), then as a member you may be able to access the expert help of our appointed solicitors to make a legal claim, subject to eligibility, assessment and acceptance under the Oddfellows' Legal Aid Scheme.* Support under the scheme is not guaranteed and is provided at the Society's discretion.
Receiving help to make a claim through the Oddfellows' Legal Aid Scheme is a discretionary membership benefit available from day one, subject to eligibility criteria and a positive assessment of the case by the Society's appointed solicitors. However, please note that your accident, incident or issue must not have happened before the start of your membership. Family members can also apply for help from the scheme for personal injury and medical negligence cases, but not for employment matters.
For personal injury and medical negligence cases accepted under the scheme, you will not have to pay anything for your claim to be investigated, but there may be deductions from any compensation awarded towards legal and insurance costs.
Not all claim applications will be accepted, and access to the scheme is not guaranteed.
Employment dispute claims
Initial advice regarding employment issues is provided through the Oddfellows Citizens Advice Line. If your case reaches the stage where specialist employment advice and representation at a Tribunal is requested, it will be referred to the Society's appointed solicitor for assessment under the scheme.
Where a claim is accepted under the scheme, the costs of preparing your case and representation at an Appeal Tribunal may be covered, subject to the scheme's terms and ongoing assessment of the claim.
The Society may recover up to one third of any compensation awarded towards the legal costs, if your case is successful.
How to apply for help through the Legal Aid Scheme
For a confidential discussion and to receive an application form, please call the Care and Welfare Helpline. You can access the member-only helpline's 0800 number by signing in to the Member’s Area. Alternatively, you can contact your Branch Secretary, call our Membership team or refer to your Member Handbook.
Completed application forms will be sent to our solicitors, who will assess the suitability and merits of your claim under the scheme and may contact you for further information.
Acceptance onto the scheme is subject to the solicitors' assessment and the Society's approval, and applications may be declined.
If your claim is accepted under the scheme, our specialist solicitors will support you throughout your claim, subject to continued compliance with the scheme's terms and the claim maintaining sufficient merit.
Our scheme should not be confused with the government's Legal Aid Scheme.
Not yet and Oddfellows member? The Legal Aid Scheme is just one of the many benefits of Oddfellows membership. Discover ways in which we can help you get even more out of life.
*Terms and conditions apply to all Oddfellows benefits, which are non-contractual and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Financial benefits are awarded at the Society's discretion, not guaranteed, and claim applications may be declined. For full details, visit the member benefit terms and conditions page.
