Legal aid schemes not run by the Board

Legal aid for the accused/defendants in criminal proceedings

This is the main scheme of criminal legal aid for persons who are accused /defendants in criminal cases being prosecuted by a Garda on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (in the District Court) or the Director of Public Prosecutions (in the Circuit Criminal Court or Central Criminal Court) or on appeal to the Circuit Court or Court of Appeal. We currently have no involvement in this scheme. Applications for criminal legal aid are made by a solicitor to the judge where appropriate. A statement of means is completed.

There are plans for this scheme to be transferred to us, but this has not yet occurred. Details of the scheme are available on the Department of Justice and Equality’s website.

Legal aid at Mental Health Tribunals

This is a scheme of civil legal aid for persons involuntarily detained in an approved centre. Details are available on the Mental Health Commission website.

Other schemes

There are a number of other ad-hoc or statutory legal aid schemes. The key thing to remember is that once a matter is under the scope of another legal aid scheme it is automatically taken out of the scope of civil legal aid and advice. Applications for civil legal aid for matters under the scope of another scheme may be refused for this reason.