Key legal question
Whether the cantonal refusal of free legal aid and legal representation was lawful because the underlying case was hopeless.
Extracted holding
The refusal was lawful because the appeal lacked sufficient chances of success; the medical evidence supporting the claimant was not enough to cast doubt on the expert report.
Extracted reasoning
Under Art. 61 lit. f ATSG, free representation requires indigence, necessity of counsel, and a non-hopeless case. The Court found the psychiatric expert report comprehensive and convincing, while the contrary reports did not materially undermine it.