Legal aid

IMPORTANT: All new jury trials suspended from Monday 23 March

Legal aid is government funding to pay for legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer.

Legal aid is an important part of New Zealand's justice system. It helps people to resolve legal problems that may go to court and makes sure that people are not denied justice because they can't afford a lawyer.

Legal help

Find out the help you can get if you're involved in legal disputes or difficulties.
Get legal aid

Find out if you can get legal aid, how you can apply for legal aid and how you can find a lawyer.
User charge for family & civil cases

Find out about user charges for family and civil matters, including how much the user charge is and where to pay it, and when a user charge doesn't apply.
Do you need to pay back your legal aid?

Find out about legal aid repayments, if you need to make repayments, how to make repayments, if there are problems with repayments and if your debt will be secured over any property you own.
Ask for a review of a legal aid decision

Find out what to do if you don't agree with a legal aid decision and how to apply to have a legal aid decision reconsidered or reviewed.
Your legal aid

Find out about your legal aid lawyer, paying a legal aid debt, and the legal aid forms available.