Go to a Legal Aid branch office or, if there is not one in your area, to the nearest Magistrate’s Court to enquire about legal aid. All magistrates’ courts have a legal aid officer who will help you with your legal aid enquiries.

The legal aid officer will check that you satisfy the means test and whether your matter falls within the scope of the guidelines set out by the Legal Aid Board. If you qualify, then you will be sent to an attorney, who will receive what is called a ‘legal aid instruction’ for your case. That attorney will then deal with your case. Attorneys do have a right to refuse a legal aid instruction, but they normally do not refuse. If they do refuse, a legal aid instruction can be made out to another attorney.