Legal Aid in the European Union

The European Union have set up rules that allow EU residents to apply for legal aid in most other EU countries (except Denmark and UK). Under these rules, if you live in Ireland, you can apply for legal aid in most other EU countries. If you live in another EU country, you can apply for legal aid in Ireland.

I live in another EU member state and need legal aid in Ireland

If you live in another member state of the European Union (except Denmark) and want to apply for legal aid in Ireland, you should complete the EU legal aid application form.

You can return the application form to the legal aid authority in your home country or to us. We will make the decision on whether or not you can get legal aid in Ireland - the only thing the legal aid authority in your home country will do is forward the form to us.

I need legal aid in the United Kingdom

If your case is in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, you can contact the legal aid authority directly for information on applying for legal aid:

Legal Aid Agency (England and Wales) (0044) 845 345 4 345
Scottish Legal Aid Board (0044) 131 226 7061
Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (048) 9040 8888

I need legal aid in another EU member state

If you need legal aid in another EU member state (except for Denmark and the UK), you should complete the EU legal aid application form (also available as a Microsoft Word document) and return to us at Legal Aid Board, Quay Street, Cahirsiveen, Co. Kerry V23 RD36. The decision on whether or not you will get legal aid will be made by the legal aid authority in the country where the case will be. We will not make that decision.

Some forms on this page are available in Portable Document Format (PDF). Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® software is required to view them. A free copy of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® can be downloaded from the Adobe® website www.adobe.com.

Some forms are available as Microsoft® Word files. If you do not have the software to read them you can download a free viewer from the Microsoft® website www.microsoft.com/downloads.