Welcome to the Legal Services Agency

The Legal Services Agency is responsible for helping people access justice, by funding legal aid, initial criminal legal services and community law centres, and producing law-related education and information. The Agency helped 58,314 people access legal services and made 73,905 grants of legal aid in the last year. In addition to legal aid services, the Agency funded 766 lawyers to provide duty solicitor services. Duty solicitors assist people who have no legal representation at their first court appearance. The Agency also funded 27 community law centres (CLCs), which together delivered 80,000 hours of case work, 24,000 hours of legal information services and 110,000 hours of law-related education services to their communities.

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need legal aid?

Do you need legal aid header

Legal aid is the government programme which pays a lawyer's fees if you cannot afford a lawyer to represent you. If you are granted legal aid, payment is made directly to an approved legal aid lawyer. There are different eligibility thresholds for legal aid, which may include some repayment.

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What is legal aid?
Can I get legal aid?
Find a legal aid lawyer
Public Defence Service (PDS)
Review or challenge a legal aid decision

Latest news

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Legal aid calculator

A calculator that indicates whether people are financially eligible for legal aid is available here. This is only an indication of eligibility and you will need to contact us for a fuller assessment.

about the legal services agency

about the legal services agency header

The Legal Services Agency is responsible for helping people access justice, by funding legal aid, initial criminal legal services and community law centres, and producing law-related education and information. Education and information resources are available online or as publications.

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About us
Publications and Agency reports
Media
Ordering resources
Legal services information

Latest news

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Auckland Criminal Legal Services expansion

The Government has announced the expansion of the Public Defence Service (PDS) in Auckland and the duty solicitor reforms currently operating at the Auckland and Waitakere courts as part of the expansion of criminal legal services in Auckland. Click here for more information.

information for lawyers

information for lawyers headers

This section is for lawyers and others who have been approved by the Agency to provide legal aid, and for lawyers and others who want to become listed providers. It includes information and resources to assist you to provide legal aid services, including forms and the online manual.

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Forms
Online Manual
Become a listed provider
Proceedings steps
General policies

Latest news

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Changes to rates and Word templates

From 1 July 2009, there are changes to legal aid lawyer and other listed provider payment rates. The new rates and templates will apply to work undertaken after 1 July 2009. Please click here for links to the rates and the new Word template package

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