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Legal aid helps pay for legal advice, mediation or representation in court - see if you can claim.

• What you can get legal aid for

  Legal aid can help with the costs of legal advice. You can also get…

• Financial eligibility

  To get legal aid, you’ll usually need to show that both: your income is…

• Check if you can get legal aid

  Use the ‘Check if you can get legal aid’ service to check your eligibility…

• Funding for exceptional cases

  You could get legal aid for cases that would not usually be eligible if…

• Domestic abuse

  You might be able to get legal aid if you have evidence that you or your…

• Legal problems abroad

  If you’re abroad, legal aid is provided by the country where the dispute…

• If you’ve been arrested or charged with a crime

  If you’ve been arrested A police custody officer will help you get legal…

Legal aid application forms and guidance for civil and crime work: apply online or through CCMS, deal with high cost or exceptional cases.

• Updated: 2 August 2023

Find legal advice to solve legal problems out of court: solicitors, pro bono lawyers, barristers, mediators and legal aid.

• Overview

  You can get legal advice and information to solve common problems, for…

• Find a legal adviser

  A legal adviser might be able to help you solve a problem, or give you…

• Solve problems out of court

  You may be able to solve your problem without going to court using…

• Going to court

  You may need to go to court to solve some legal problems. If you go to…

Legal aid providers: test scope, merits and means; access legislation and regulations; use the civil legal aid calculator and manual.

• Updated: 26 January 2026

We administer the legal aid scheme in England and Wales, in accordance with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. LAA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice .

• Updated: 29 April 2025

The rules for legal aid providers, including the interests of justice and means tests, relevant legislation, and making an application.

• Updated: 27 June 2025

General information including on costs assessment and remuneration for civil and crime matters.

• Updated: 17 March 2026

Determine financial eligibility for legal aid: check household income, calculate living costs, enforcement action, apply for hardship or eligibility review.

• Updated: 3 February 2025

The Legal Aid Board was responsible for the administration of Legal Aid. It was replaced in 2000 by the Legal Services Commisison

• Updated: 15 April 2021

Find specific information and funding guidance so you can run your mediation service according to Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contracts.

• Updated: 5 September 2018