Table of Contents
| Basic information |
| Functions: To ensure that anyone who has reasonable grounds to bring or defend a legal action is not prevented from seeking justice due to lack of financial means. address: 9/F and 24/F to 27/F Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong G/F & 3/F, Mongkok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Mongkok, Kowloon Telephone: (852) 2537 7677 (24-hour interactive voice response system)Self-service query flow chart e-mail: ladinfo@lad.gov.hk website: https://www.lad.gov.hk |
Welcome
The Legal Aid Department was established in 1970. Over the past 50 years, we have remained committed to ensuring that no one who has a reasonable basis to bring or defend a legal action is prevented from seeking justice due to lack of financial means. Legal aid services play a vital role in ensuring that citizens have access to justice. Over the years, we have kept pace with the times and continuously expanded our service scope to meet the ever-changing needs of society. Legal aid services are an important part of Hong Kong’s legal system. They have always helped to maintain the rule of law in Hong Kong and will continue to play this role in the future.
This website contains comprehensive and up-to-date information about the Department and the services we provide. It also provides useful reference materials for legal aid applicants, recipients and members of the legal profession. The webpage has a novel layout design, which enhances the browsing experience for desktop and mobile device users. I hope you find this page useful.
What is Legal Aid?
Legal aid provides eligible applicants with the services of a lawyer or barrister (if necessary) to represent them in civil or criminal proceedings.
Legal aid is mainly available for cases heard in the District Court, the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal. It also applies to committal proceedings heard in the Magistrates' Courts.
Anyone, whether a Hong Kong resident or not, who is involved in legal proceedings in the above courts may apply for legal aid. Legal aid can be obtained as long as the applicant's financial resources meet the statutory requirements and the case has reasonable grounds to initiate or defend litigation.
This Department does not provide legal advice to the public. For details on how to seek legal advice in Hong Kong, please refer to the "How to Apply - Seeking Legal Services"booklet.
Vision, Mission and Belief
ambition
Providing high quality legal aid services as the cornerstone of the rule of law in Hong Kong.
mission
- To ensure that no one who is eligible for legal aid is denied access to justice due to lack of financial means.
- Maintain high standards of professional work performance and conduct.
- Cultivate and maintain a workforce that is dedicated, motivated, well-trained and committed.
- Maintain close collaboration and liaison with the legal profession to achieve the Agency's aspirations.
- Make legal aid work as compatible as possible with social needs.
belief
- Impartiality and independence
- Do your best in everything
- Focus on efficiency
- Professionalism
- Working together
- Showing compassion and positive response to citizens
Legal Aid Department - Civil Cases - Application Procedure
Application Procedure
Before applying for legal aid, you must submit to this Department detailed information to prove your financial situation and relevant to the case. You can make an application in person or through the Legal Aid Electronic Services Portal (the Portal).
- You can obtain the prescribed form and case questionnaire from the Legal Aid Department office and return the completed application form by post or submit it in person to the Department. The office address is as follows:
- 25/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong (near Admiralty MTR Station) or;
- G/F, Mong Kok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Kowloon (next to Mong Kok East MTR Station)
- If you are 18 years of age or above and the litigation involved in your application is not urgent, you can apply through our websitewww.lad.gov.hkEnterStarter Site, submit the required information for pre-application online so that you can submit the formal application later. After logging into the portal, you will need to answer some key questions before you can download the "Pre-application Information Required Form". After completing the form, you can submit it to this Department online. After receiving the information, this Department will issue you an electronic file number through the portal for confirmation. Once we have verified the information you have submitted and consider it complete, we will notify you of an appointment date for formally processing your application.
No application fee is required unless you are applying under the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme.
On the day of the interview, you will be required to undergo a means test and this Department may also take a detailed statement from you to determine whether your application is substantive.
When assessing your legal aid application, this Department may need to obtain information from a third party. After receiving all the relevant information, the lawyer in charge of the case will decide whether to grant you legal aid.
However, if it is an urgent case, you must come to our office in person and inform our staff of the urgency of your case. We will give priority to your application.
Legal Aid Department - Criminal Cases - Eligibility
Eligibility
- As long as the applicant passes the financial review and case review, he or she is eligible for legal aid.
- Means test - If your financial resources do not exceed the financial eligibility limit (i.e. HK$449,620), you are eligible to apply for legal aid. If your financial resources exceed the limit, the Director of Legal Aid (the Director) may waive the financial resource limit if he considers that the grant of legal aid is in the interests of justice. However, you will have to pay a higher contribution based on your financial resources.
- Merits - Legal aid will be provided in cases heard in the District Court and the Court of First Instance if it is in the interests of justice to grant it. As for appeal cases, we will only provide legal aid if you have reasonable grounds for appeal and the granting of legal aid is conducive to the maintenance of judicial justice.
Address and correspondence
If you would like to obtain more information about our department, you can contact us through the following channels:
| Telephone: | (852) 2537 7677 (24-hour interactive voice response system)Self-service query flow chart |
| fax: | (852) 2537 5948 |
| e-mail: | ladinfo@lad.gov.hk |
| post: |
| office | Serve |
|---|---|
| Headquartersmap] | 25th Floor Civil and criminal legal aid applications and review of criminal proceedings 26th Floor Personal Injury Litigation 9th Floor Family Litigation 27th Floor Cost accounting and execution of judgment |
| 66 Queensway, Hong Kong 9/F and 24/F to 27/F Queensway Government Offices | |
| Kowloon Branch Officemap] | Civil legal aid application and examination (except employees' compensation claims) |
| 30 Luen Wan Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon G/F & 3/F, Mong Kok Government Offices |
Office Hours
Please pressHereCheck our office hours.
| Policy and Administration Division | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
| Ms. Vivian Yik | Administration Group | 2867 3171 |
| Ms. Chan Tsui-shan | Costing Team and Enforcement Team | 2867 3152 |
| Application and Examination Division | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
| Ms. Chow Kai Yung | Headquarters Application and Examination Division | 2867 3309 |
| Ms. Lau Lai Sheung | Application and Processing Division Kowloon Branch | 2399 2328 |
| Litigation Division | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
| Ms. Ng Ka Wai | Civil Litigation Group 1 | 2867 3123 |
| Ms. Leung Kwun-kwan | Civil Litigation Group 2 | 2867 4816 |
| Please note that the Civil Litigation Section under the Litigation Division only handles civil cases assigned by the Director to in-house lawyers. For those who are applying for legal aid, if you wish to inquire about the progress of your legal aid application, please contact the Application and Processing Division directly. The Civil Litigation Section will not provide legal advice to beneficiaries whose cases have been handed over to outsourced private lawyers. | ||
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
| Ms. Wang Jing | Criminal Division | 2867 3139 |
Please note: This department does not provide legal advice to members of the public. For details on how to seek legal advice in Hong Kong, please refer to our printed “How to Apply - Seeking Legal Services"booklet.
Comments and suggestions
If you have any suggestions or comments on the quality of our services, please:
- Place your suggestions or comments in the suggestion boxes located at the reception counters of the Department;
- If you are an applicant or recipient, please complete the questionnaire sent to you together with the application result and return it to this Department; or
- Email your suggestions or comments toladinfo@lad.gov.hk.
If you have any complaints, please lodge them with our Departmental Complaints Officer in the following ways:
| mailing address: | 66 Queensway, Hong Kong 27/F, Queensway Government Offices Legal Aid Department Department Complaints Officer |
| telephone number: | (852) 2867 3171 |
| Fax Number: | (852) 2869 0525 |
| Email address: | ladinfo@lad.gov.hk |
All complaints will be dealt with impartially and promptly by the Department. This Office will acknowledge receipt of a complaint within 10 days and endeavour to complete the investigation within 30 days from the date of receipt and inform the complainant of the outcome.
Accessible passages and facilities
If you have any enquiries or comments about the accessibility, barrier-free facilities and services of our offices, please contact:
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. Lee Nga Ling | Policy and Administration Division | 2867 3097 |
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. May PANG | Policy and Administration Division | 2867 4449 |
| Name | Department/Group | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Li Yuhong | Headquarters Application and Examination Division | 2867 3018 |
| Ms. Lau Lai Sheung | Application and Processing Division Kowloon Branch | 2399 2328 |
| Ms. Ng Ka Wai | Civil Litigation Group 1 | 2867 3123 |
| Ms. Leung Kwun-kwan | Civil Litigation Group 2 | 2867 4816 |
| Mr. Liu Mancheng | Criminal Division | 2867 3071 |
| Ms. Chan Tsui-shan | Costing Team and Enforcement Team | 2867 3152 |
| Ms. FU Wan-Sum | Administration Group | 2867 4687 |
