Criminal cases

If you've been charged with a criminal offence, legal aid can help with the costs of legal advice from a solicitor or representation at court.

To get criminal legal aid you'll have to show that you can't afford to pay your legal costs yourself or that paying them would be unreasonable to you or your family. 

Criminal legal aid is usually granted if:

• you want to appeal against a decision a criminal court made about you
• you've been charged with a serious offence on petition under solemn procedure (this means it's likely there will be a trial with a jury)
• you've been charged with a less serious offence on petition under summary procedure where the case will be heard in the sheriff court 

In Justice of the Peace court cases, you also need to show if:

• you're likely to go to prison if convicted
• you're likely to lose your job if convicted
• you can't follow what's happening in the trial because of a mental or physical disability or English isn't your first language
• you're being kept in custody until a trial

Your solicitor (or a duty solicitor if you're in custody) can tell you it's likely you'll get help with legal costs, what you need to pay and how to apply.