Legal aid lawyers in New Zealand
How to get legal aid, what to do first, and all 2,079 legal aid lawyers in 105 towns, with their phone numbers.
What legal aid is
Legal aid is government money that pays for a lawyer if you can't afford one. The Ministry of Justice decides who gets it, based on your income, what you own and your case. It is treated as a loan, so you may have to pay some or all of it back.
It can help if you've been charged with a crime, have a family dispute that goes to court (such as care of children), or have a civil problem like ACC, a job, money or housing. Source: Ministry of Justice.
Find your next steps
Choose what's happening to see your next steps.
What to do first
The steps depend on your case. For a crime, you apply straight away. For family and civil cases, you find a lawyer first.
If you've been charged
- Apply for legal aid as soon as you're charged. Don't wait for your first day in court.
- On your first day in court, ask for the duty lawyer. It's free, and they can help you apply for legal aid.
- For most charges, the Ministry chooses your legal aid lawyer. For very serious charges (more than 10 years in prison), you can choose your own.
If it's a family matter
- Find a family legal aid lawyer first. Call a few from the list until one can take your case.
- Your lawyer helps you apply for legal aid. Bring details of your income, savings, debts and anything you own.
- Bring any letters or court papers about your case, and your partner's income details if you have a partner.
If it's a civil matter
- Civil legal aid can cover things like ACC, problems at work, money and housing disputes.
- Find a civil legal aid lawyer first. Fewer lawyers do this work, so start calling early.
- Your lawyer helps you apply for legal aid.
Free help you can get today
Held by the police?
You can talk to a lawyer for free, day or night. Ask the police for the list of lawyers. More about this
First day in court?
Ask for the duty lawyer at the District Court. They're free if you don't have a lawyer. More about duty lawyers
Free legal advice
Community Law Centres give free legal help. The Citizens Advice Bureau can point you to the right place.
Questions about legal aid?
Call the Ministry of Justice on 0800 253 425, weekdays 8am to 5pm. You can ask for a free interpreter.
Legal aid lawyers by town
Smaller towns are listed on their region's page.
Auckland 734 lawyers
Waikato 196 lawyers
Bay of Plenty 185 lawyers
Taranaki 42 lawyers
Wellington 280 lawyers
Nelson 44 lawyers
Marlborough 12 lawyers
- Blenheim12
West Coast 5 lawyers
Canterbury 239 lawyers
Otago 77 lawyers
Southland 27 lawyers
Verified with the Ministry of Justice legal aid list on 12 October 2026. Lawyer details are from the Ministry of Justice, used under CC BY 4.0. We group them by firm and town and add links to firm pages. The Ministry of Justice decides who gets legal aid; Find A Lawyer is not part of the Ministry. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Legal aid guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay legal aid back?
Can I choose my own lawyer?
What if I'm turned down?
Where does this list come from?
Not sure who'll take your case?
Tell us your situation and we'll match you with a legal aid lawyer, free. Say in a few words what's happening, and that you need legal aid.