What we must check to see if you are eligible for legal aid

Civil legal aid

You will need to complete a form when you apply for civil legal aid. Your solicitor will give you the correct one.

You will need to send evidence of all your income, savings/capital and outgoings. To do this you will have to give the following:

  • Copies of your most recent three months’ bank statements for all bank accounts you hold.
  • Copies of your three most recent payslips.
    • If you are self-employed, you will need to send us copies of your year-end accounts, including your balance sheet. If these are not available we will need a copy of your self-assessment tax return you made to HMRC and a copy of the tax return assessment.
  • Details of any savings/capital you have.

If you do not fully complete the form or provide the evidence needed this will cause a delay in your application being processed.

If you need more information please call our Financial Assessment Unit on 0131 560 2164.

Criminal legal aid

You will need to give your solicitor full details about your income and your savings. Your solicitor will ask you to sign a form and you will have to provide your solicitor with the following information:

  • Copies of your most recent bank statements for all bank accounts you hold.
  • Copies of your most recent payslips (if your earnings are not shown on the bank statement).
    • If you are self-employed, you will need to send us copies of your year-end accounts, including your balance sheet. If these are not available we will need a copy of your self-assessment tax return you made to HMRC and a copy of the tax return assessment.
  • Copies of a benefit award if you are in receipt of benefit (if receipt of benefit is not shown on the bank statement).
  • Copies of any household payments you make such as rent, mortgage, council tax, (if these payments are not shown on your bank statement).
  • Details of any capital and savings you have.

If you do not provide this information to your solicitor, this will cause a delay in your application being processed. If you need more information please call the Criminal Applications department on 0131  560 2138.

If you are unable to provide any of the information we have requested please contact us in order that we can discuss what alternatives we could accept.

Children's legal aid

You will need to give your solicitor full details about your income and your savings. Your solicitor will ask you to sign a form and you will have to provide your solicitor with the following information:

  • Copies of your most recent bank statements for all bank accounts you hold.
  • Copies of your most recent payslips (if your earnings are not shown on the bank statement).
    • If you are self-employed, you will need to send us copies of your year-end accounts, including your balance sheet. If these are not available we will need a copy of your self-assessment tax return you made to HMRC and a copy of the tax return assessment.
  • Copies of a benefit award if you are in receipt of benefit (if receipt of benefit is not shown on the bank statement).
  • Copies of any household payments you make such as rent, mortgage, council tax, (if these payments are not shown on your bank statement).
  • Details of any capital and savings you have.

If you do not provide this information to your solicitor, this will cause a delay in your application being processed. If you need more information please call the Children's Applications department on 0131 560 2118.

Contact us

If you are unable to send us any of the information we have requested please contact us to discuss what alternatives we could accept.