Eligibility for Legal Aid Nz

If you have any questions about your eligibility for legal aid or the application process, please contact Sara directly at Carlile Dowling at 06-835-9251. Concerns have rightly been raised about the low eligibility threshold — for a single applicant, it is currently just over half of what a full-time employee receives at minimum wage — the $50 user fee, debt repayment and interest on legal aid grants. « We know how scary the court process can be for people, especially when they face unnecessary obstacles. These changes will result in real help for those in need of legal assistance, » said Kiri Allan. Legal aid is there to ensure that those who do not have financial resources have access to services and support when they need them, so use this service if you qualify. For more information, visit the Department of Justice website at www.justice.govt.nz/legal-aid. The maximum amounts of income and disposable capital used to determine if you are eligible for family or civil legal aid are included in the Legal Services Regulations, 2011 (external link) We help people who face certain types of serious legal problems, such as children, youth and family or work and income, debt or credit problems or criminal charges. Your income, assets and liabilities will be taken into account in determining whether you are entitled to legal aid, as well as the nature of the litigation and the substance of your case. Some of New Zealand`s poorest citizens now owe a share of $177 million in legal debt – and the government charges them 5% interest. If you need a lawyer and can`t afford one, you can first contact us for free legal assistance. We can then refer you to the right legal aid lawyer. Some of our Community Law Centres now offer legal aid services in certain areas of law. You will need to contact your local Community Law Centre to find out if they can help you resolve a legal issue with legal aid.

More than 20,000 people have been refused legal aid in the past 12 months, according to a Law Society survey. New Zealand`s legal aid system was strengthened in the recent budget, raising maximum income thresholds and increasing hourly rates for lawyers, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi announced. Learn more about criminal legal aid: Legal aid also takes into account the value of your assets, such as the amount of property you own and the vehicles you own. Even if you own your own home, you are likely to still be eligible for legal aid if your income is below the threshold. « Entrenching changes in laws and regulations is necessary to implement budget decisions and will help sustain the legal aid system and ensure better access to justice for thousands of people who would otherwise not be able to afford a lawyer. Community law can help solve all sorts of legal problems, including: Other factors to consider when deciding whether you are entitled to legal aid in civil or family matters are: « The government is committed to passing legislative amendments to strengthen our legal aid system. Legal aid is a government-provided legal fund that is used for your legal fees. It includes legal advice and representation for people who may not be able to afford it on their own. The Legal Aid Office offers this service to those who are eligible, so that you can get legal representation if necessary. If you`re in a position where you need legal representation to appear in court, but can`t afford it, this article is for you.

We are talking about legal aid and how you qualify for it. Legal aid is not available for lawyers` fees or representation in cases that are not brought before the courts (e.g. drafting a will), or for divorce proceedings. While there are situations where legal aid does not need to be repaid (either if your income is below a threshold or if you are the applicant in a domestic violence case), legal aid is generally considered a loan that must be repaid. The number of New Zealanders eligible for legal aid increased from about 1.2 million in 2007 to 400,000. Start on the left side of the table by determining how many dependencies you have. Your children are your dependents and your spouse or partner is also your dependant if they have no income. Next, look at the corresponding figure on the right side of the table. If you earn less than this amount, you will pass the Legal Aid Income Test. « Both the legal fraternity and those under Community law have been very positive about what this will do. » Legal aid is a regulation of the Ministry of Justice. It is government funding to pay lawyers for people who go to court and cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.

Legal aid is available for accused persons and for persons with a civil or family dispute who may be brought before the courts, as well as for proceedings before the Waitangi Court. However, it has come under pressure in recent years as recruitment has remained virtually unchanged since 2011 and the number of people eligible for legal aid has decreased and is expected to continue to decline. Legal Aid Lawyers are experienced professionals who have been considered for employment by the Legal Aid Office because of their excellent legal skills and knowledge. Legal jargon can be confusing and intimidating for those who know nothing about the law. It is important to ensure that you have an experienced and qualified lawyer by your side when you are going through a legal situation. Whether you can receive legal aid for families depends on your income, assets and the merits of the dispute. A 12% increase in the hourly rate for mutual legal assistance lawyers came into effect on 1 July, providing personal legal assistance to people who do not have much money.