Under the Legal Aid Act legal aid is offered to litigants that cannot financially afford to pay for for legal representation in civil and criminal proceedings. To be eligible for legal aid you must earn less than SCR8000.00 per month. Proof of your financial position will be required and you will be required to furnish the following information:

  • Your name address, NIN number
  • Your occupation
  • Your income and that of your spouse
  • Details about income tax, loans and life insurance premiums, the maintenance of dependents
  • Your assets
  • The nature of the matter for which you are seeking legal aid.

During 2018, 784 legal aid applications were filed with the Judiciary. Of these 573 were granted. During 2019, 797 legal aid applications were filed. Of these 605 were granted.

APPLY FOR LEGAL AID

All applications for legal aid must be made to the Registrar on the prescribed form. The form is available from the Registry and can be downloaded here: Legal Aid Form

  • Once received the application will be reviewed and you will be notified of the outcome and, if approved, a lawyer will be allocated to your case.
  • All licensed legal practitioners (unless exempt) must, as a condition of their legal practitioner’s license take legal aid cases.
  • Where your allocated legal practitioner fails to represent you in a manner that is consistent with the Legal Practitioners Act and the Legal Practitioners (Professional Conduct Rules) or fails to appear on your behalf please contact the Registrar of the Supreme Court