Legal aid solicitors in Belfast spend as much time explaining the funding as they do explaining the case. People arrive having been told, by a friend or a website, that family cases are either free or impossible to afford. Neither is reliably true.
Legal aid in Northern Ireland
The Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland decides applications under the civil and criminal legal aid rules. Your solicitor has to assess financial eligibility before advice and assistance is given, using your income and capital. If you are over the limit, or the merits of the case are weak, the Agency can refuse. Kristina sits on the Agency's Appeals Panel, so the practice is used to how those decisions are argued, including when a refusal should be challenged.
Family and children
Parents in care proceedings are often granted legal aid, because the proceedings are treated as a priority. Private law cases about residence and contact are looked at more carefully: the Agency wants to see a real improvement for the child, and it expects you to have tried to agree before issuing, where that is safe. Divorce petitions and ancillary relief are assessed separately. A grant for one does not automatically cover the other.
Criminal cases
Advice at the police station is usually covered, including for a voluntary interview. Representation at court depends on the offence and a means test. Read more about criminal defence.
Wills and probate are privately funded. We quote those fees up front. For anything else, call 028 9443 8955 and ask for a legal aid check before you worry about the bill.
This is general information about the law in Northern Ireland, not advice on your situation. Call us before you rely on it.