Legal aid in Northern Ireland is funded by the Department of Justice and may be available to people on a low income who need legal advice or representation.
Legal aid is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes. This means it can be accessed regardless of a person's immigration status, including where they have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
There are three legal aid schemes:
Legal aid may be available for a range of legal issues, including:
If a case is not covered by legal aid, it may still be possible to apply to the Legal Services Agency for exceptional funding to pay for legal representation.
Further information is available from the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland.
Page updated: 30 June 2026
