Can I get legal aid?
- What is legal aid?
- Types of problem
- I´ve been charged with a crime. Can I get legal aid?
- Am I eligible?
- What should I do if I am eligible?
What is legal aid?
Legal aid helps with the costs of legal advice for people who can't afford it.
If you need help with the costs of legal advice, you can apply for legal aid. Whether you will receive it will depend upon:
- the type of legal problem you have;
- your income (how much you earn) and how much capital (money, property, belongings) you have;
- whether there is a reasonable chance of winning your case and whether it is worth the time and money needed to win.
Types of problem
Legal Aid is available for many types of civil legal problem. A civil legal case is one in which you have a dispute with a person, company or other organisation.
For example, a civil problem can be to do with your:
- home
- relationships (you may be separating or divorcing)
- money (you may be having difficulty receiving benefits).
I've been charged with a crime. Can I get legal aid?
You can get legal aid for criminal cases, too. To find a solicitor to represent you, use our directory or call our helpline.
You must fill in an 'Application for Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings', which your solicitor will give you. If you do not fill in this form, you will not get legal aid. When you visit your solicitor, you should take evidence of your income with you.
You should apply for legal aid before you attend court if you can.
Am I eligible?
For most cases, you must be financially eligible to receive legal aid.
You can use our legal aid calculator to see whether you could get legal aid for a civil case.
To decide whether you can receive legal aid, the following will be taken into account:
- your disposable income (money left after paying living expenses)
- your disposable capital (money, investments or property you could use or sell to pay for legal help).
In most cases, your husband, wife or partner's disposable income and capital will also be taken into account.
For criminal cases, you will need to go through a means test. The website of the Legal Services Commission contains more information about means testing.
What should I do if I think I am eligible?
If you think you could be eligible for legal aid, you should speak to a legal adviser who can deal with legal aid cases. You can search our directory to find an adviser in your area or call our telephone helpline.
Further information
To learn more about legal aid, please read our leaflet A Step-by-step Guide to Legal Aid.