In England and Wales, legal aid is funded by the UK Government to help people on a low income access free legal advice.
Legal aid is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes. This means it can be accessed regardless of a person’s immigration status, including where they have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
However, legal aid is only available for certain types of cases, and is limited for immigration matters. This means many people on a low income will not be able to access free legal advice.
The following pages outline legal aid provision in England and Wales.
For information on provision in other UK nations, see our specific pages on:
Page updated: 29 June 2026
