In England and Wales, legal aid is available for a range of legal issues, including:
- asylum claims and some immigration cases
- social services cases involving children
- access to help or services from the local authority or NHS because of illness, disability or mental capacity
- representation at a mental health tribunal for people detained in hospital
- certain welfare benefits appeals (for example, at the Upper Tribunal or higher courts)
- homelessness, including asylum accommodation
- judicial review challenges against decisions made by public bodies, including local authorities
- some family law cases involving domestic abuse or child protection
Eligibility for legal aid
Legal aid is usually subject to a means assessment, which considers a person’s income and savings.
Some cases are also subject to a merits assessment. This means a legal representative must consider whether the case has a reasonable chance of success. For example, an appeal against a refusal of asylum will usually only be funded if it has at least a 50% chance of success.
More information
Further information is available from the Law Society on help with paying for legal costs.
Page updated: 29 June 2026
