Current cases

Information for applicants

Step by step guidance once you've applied for or been granted legal aid; have a contribution to pay; your responsibilities

Information for opponents

Information for the other party in a civil legal aid case, why we contact them and their right to submit representations.

Making payments

Find out how to make a payment online towards the cost of your case, or for any other reason, using secure payment portal SLABPAY.

Leaflets and forms

Read leaflets with legal aid information for applicants, opponents, young people and children or view forms your solicitor may ask you to look at or complete.

Send information (make a representation) about a case you are involved in

Send us information about a case in which you are an opponent.

Solicitor Contact Line (SCL)

A team of publicly funded criminal defence lawyers providing a 24-hours a day advice and representation service to people arrested at police stations.

Important things to bear in mind when applying for legal aid

It is important that only those who are financially eligible receive legal aid. So it is essential that the information you provide about your circumstances is complete and accurate. You must also tell us about any changes in your circumstances, where appropriate.

If you make a false statement or hold back information about either your case or your circumstances, we may stop any legal aid given to you and you may have to repay the full costs of the case. You could also face criminal charges.

We have a duty to make sure public money is properly spent. We check with the Department for Work and Pensions, councils, employers and any other relevant third party, that the information applicants give us is accurate.

National Fraud Initiative

We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

Do you suspect someone is receiving legal aid fraudulently? Please complete our Report a Suspected Legal Aid Fraud form.

Service standards

We aim to provide a high level of service to all of our customers.  View our service policy, as well as our complaints procedure on our Customer service page.