Financial assistance available to people who are unable to meet the full cost of legal proceedings. Moves are underway to create minimum standards for legal aid in cross-border cases. . (See Judicial-civil: Legal aid)

Professional legal services available for free or for reduced cost to those unable to afford them.

A scheme which gives to persons whose disposable income and capital fall within the limits prescribed advice, assistantce and/or representation in legal proceedings.

Government funded scheme which was administered by the Legal Aid Board based on financial eligibility and merits of case. Now called "Community Legal Service Fund" administered by the Legal Services Commission (Scottish Legal Aid Board in Scotland).

Financial assistance sometimes given to those who are unable to meet the full costs of legal proceedings. Law firms that may take on Legal Aid cases have a Quality Mark which is issued by the Legal Services Commission.

A program that assists those who require a lawyer but cannot afford one. In some provinces, legal aid may only be available for more serious criminal offences.

is the short hand term used to describe legal assistance and services provided by the Legal Aid Commission, whose role is to help make the justice system accessible to everyone.

Offers advice and assistance on a variety of legal issues for people with low incomes.

Legal Aid Ontario exists to assist people who do not have enough money to hire their own lawyers. It runs a variety of programs: community legal clinics, where people who qualify financially can obtain legal advice and representation on a wide variety of topics, particularly those relating to poverty (eg. welfare reviews, landlord tenant matters, difficulties with employment insurance or disability, etc.) legal aid certificates, which allow people who meet the financial qualifications to retain their own lawyers to represent them, with the bill paid by legal aid duty counsel, who are available in both criminal and family court to assist and provide basic legal assistance to people who do not have their own lawyers and who meet the financial requirements.

The provision of free or reduced fee legal counsel to a litigant who cannot afford a private attorney.

Now generally termed public funding where an individual can obtain funding to pursue a claim. The funding is granted by the Legal Aid Board and is based on a persons means. This is now only available for a limited number of personal injury actions such as medical negligence. The vast majority of claims fall under the Access to Justice Act 1999 and will be subject to "no win no fee" (conditional fee) rules.

A government body which provides funding for legal representation for people who cannot otherwise afford it.

is provided by an organization established to serve the legal needs of people who, for financial reasons, cannot retain their own counsel. A dispute between two parties is in litigation, or being litigated, when it has become the subject of a formal court action or lawsuit. A community has local autonomy if it is self-governing.

defense counsel assigned by court to represent an indigent

where a person is unable to bear the costs of a legal action, whether or not commenced by them, then they may be eligible to have all or part of their costs paid for by the government by the by the legal services program in your community.

A statutory scheme to ensure, through payment of fees for professional services, legal advice and representation for those who cannot afford to pay.

Professional legal services usually available persons or organizations otherwise unable to afford such services.

A free legal service to people accused of crimes who can't afford a lawyer.

Facility for the fees and expenses of counsel, solicitors or other legal representatives retained by those of modest means to be paid from a fund administered by the Legal Aid Board

Pays for all or some of your lawyerâ€(tm)s fees when you need a lawyer and canâ€(tm)t pay for yourself. To find out more about legal aid: http://www.lsa.govt.nz/general/eligibility/eligibility.htm

Most liberal democracies consider that it is necessary to provide some level of legal aid to persons otherwise unable to afford legal representation. To not do so would deprive such persons of access to the court system. Alternately, they would be at a disadvantage in situations in which the state or a wealthy individual took them to court.