Legal Aid Calculator UK

Legal aid is government-funded legal help for people who cannot afford a solicitor. It covers civil matters (housing, debt, family), criminal cases, and some immigration issues. Not all legal matters are covered — since 2013 (LASPO Act), many areas of law are excluded including most private family disputes, personal injury, and employment matters.

Disposable income is your gross income minus allowable deductions: income tax, National Insurance, housing costs (capped), childcare costs, dependant allowances, and employment expenses. For civil legal aid, your disposable monthly income must be below 733 pounds. If you receive qualifying benefits, you are automatically eligible on income.

Legal aid covers: domestic abuse (family), child protection cases, housing (homelessness, disrepair, possession), debt (if home at risk), immigration detention, mental health tribunal, community care, clinical negligence (for children), discrimination, and all criminal cases. It does not cover most divorce, employment, personal injury, or general contract disputes.

For civil cases, if you win money or property (the statutory charge), you may need to repay some or all of your legal aid costs from the proceeds. For criminal cases at Crown Court, you may be ordered to pay a contribution from income during the case, and from capital after conviction. Acquitted defendants at Crown Court do not pay.

Legal aid for family matters is generally only available in cases involving domestic abuse (with evidence such as a police report, court order, or GP letter), child abuse, forced marriage, or child abduction. It is not available for most private divorce proceedings, property settlements, or child arrangement disputes without evidence of abuse.