Find out more about legal aid in civil and criminal matters Find out who can help you get free legal aid in Ireland. All persons under the age of 18 and persons over that age who are in full-time education are considered dependents of their parents, step-parents or guardians. In these circumstances, the income of parents, step-parents or guardians is taken into account when using legal services. There is a minimum fee to get civil legal aid, but you can apply for an exemption in a difficult case. There are no fees in child custody cases, but outside of this type of case, normal fees start at €30 up to a maximum of €150 for legal advice and a minimum of €130 for legal aid, including representation. The total cost of legal representation depends on your funds and capital. In certain circumstances, the Commission d`aide juridique may waive your obligation to contribute to your legal fees. Legal aid is granted only in criminal matters. A criminal case usually occurs when a law is broken and the state brings the person who broke it to justice.

An example of this would be if a person was charged with murder by the Gardaí and then tried by the state to go to trial. If you are refused legal aid, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed. If counselling is needed for a child under the age of 18, the child`s parent or guardian or other responsible adult should seek advice from a lawyer. When deciding whether or not to grant legal aid, the financial resources of the caregiver are usually taken into account. If you are applying for legal aid, you will need to pass a merits test and a means test to prove that you qualify. The decision to grant you legal aid is made by the legal aid organization. If you have to pay contributions to the costs of your case, you must pay them to your lawyer. Legal advice and assistance allows you to seek advice from a lawyer on all matters relating to Northern Ireland law. It can cover many legal issues such as personal injury, divorce, child conflicts, employment issues, and housing. The Court of Justice has the power to grant free legal aid and is only available to a person accused of a criminal offence. Legal aid cannot be applied to persons bringing private proceedings.

No. Click here for more information on applying for legal aid for international protection in Ireland. If you have to go to court and live on a small income, there are government-funded systems that can help you pay for legal services. This may mean that the services of lawyers and, if necessary, lawyers are available to you at affordable prices. These services can cover everything from representation in court to writing a lawyer`s letter for you. Legal aid may also cover the preparation of an interpreter, a lawyer and certain professional reports. Your lawyer is the best person to tell you if you could get free criminal legal help. We are an independent statutory body responsible for providing civil legal assistance and advice, family mediation and vulnerable witness services, as well as administering a range of ad hoc legal aid schemes. You can apply online, by mail or in person at a legal centre of the Commission d`aide juridique. However, to be eligible for legal aid, you must meet certain criteria. You apply for legal aid in criminal cases from the district judge when you first appear before the court. More information is available here.

When completing the “Why do I need legal services” section of the application form, you must explain in detail the nature of your legal problem. You don`t need to use legal terminology (however, if you know the right legal term for the question, it`s worth using it). If a court case is already underway, you must provide details and if there is a court date, please let us know which court it is (e.g. Dolphin House, Cork Circuit Court, etc.). If your case is a breach that you have suffered or that involves an alleged breach of a duty of care, it is very important that you inform us when the alleged breach/breach has occurred and/or when you have become aware of it. Legal aid for civil cases in justified cases. A merit test is a test that asks if you have the money to pay for the case yourself and if you would not be entitled to free legal aid if you went to court anyway. It also takes into account that a lawyer or lawyer would recommend that the case be pursued.

If Tusla initiates proceedings against you to place your child, you are entitled to legal aid, which can help you in your case and represent you during the court proceedings. For more information on obtaining legal aid in child custody proceedings, please contact the Legal Aid Committee. Legal assistance is also available for those arrested and detained in connection with a Garda investigation, and this includes legal advice and/or visits to a Garda station. If you ask your lawyer if you qualify for legal aid, your lawyer will need to bring information and documents to your first appointment so that he or she can decide what assistance, if any, you are entitled to. Sometimes, if you win a case that was funded by legal aid, you have to reimburse the cost of your legal aid. These are called statutory fees. Your lawyer will tell you if these fees are likely to apply to you. Legal aid helps people who cannot afford legal advice or representation in court by a lawyer or lawyer.

There are three different systems that provide legal aid to people who need legal advice and representation when a case goes to court. Legal aid in criminal matters applies to persons accused of a crime. Civil legal aid helps people resolve family and civil disputes. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you may be able to get help with your legal fees to protect yourself and your children. The court`s decision to grant legal aid depends on your financial situation. The Court will have to agree that it is in the interests of justice that you receive legal aid for your case. Other factsheets in this series, produced to support discussions on the development of common EU legal aid standards, include: This factsheet summarises the legal representation available to prisoners and accused persons who cannot afford their own lawyer in Ireland, including information on how legal aid is administered and who is entitled to it. All applications for legal aid must be submitted by a lawyer. A lawyer can tell you if they would be eligible for legal aid if they know the circumstances of your case.

If you do not have a lawyer, consult the list of lawyers at the Law Society. The claims calculator only checks whether you are financially eligible for legal aid. You will not be told if you can actually get legal help for your particular case. Your legal problem must be covered by civil legal aid and if you need representation in court, we will consider the merits of your case. It is important to remember that while legal aid in criminal cases is free of charge, legal aid in civil matters must be paid. Civil legal aid is granted only in civil matters. Civil cases usually involve a person or group conducting a case against another person or group. An example of a civil case would be a parent of a child suing the other parent in court for failing to pay child support. The decision to grant you legal aid under this scheme is made by the Legal Services Agency of Northern Ireland.