Legal aid lawyers in Nelson
42 lawyers at 28 firms in Nelson can take legal aid cases. Their phone numbers are below. Legal aid helps pay for a lawyer if you can't afford one.
Not sure where to start? Read what to do first below, or call the Ministry of Justice legal aid line on 0800 253 425 (free, weekdays 8am to 5pm).
What to do 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.
Legal aid in Nelson at a glance
- 24 lawyers can take criminal legal aid cases, including the most serious charges (level 4 of 4).
- 22 lawyers work as duty lawyers, the free help at court on your first day.
- 10 lawyers give free advice to people held by the police.
- 29 lawyers can take family legal aid cases, and 20 give family legal advice.
- 11 lawyers can take civil legal aid cases, such as ACC or employment.
- Some also take mental health (6), refugee and immigration (1), Waitangi Tribunal (2) cases.
- Languages other than English: French (1).
Free help near Nelson
Free legal advice
Nelson Bays Community Law
Nelson office · In Nelson
(03) 548 1288Free legal help from lawyers, for people who can't afford one. Contact details and clinics
Free advice and forms
CAB Nelson Tasman
9a Cambridge Street, Richmond
11 km from Nelson
03 548 2117Walk in, call or email. They can help you understand forms and find the right service.
Duty lawyer
Nelson District Court
200 Bridge Street, Nelson
In Nelson
0800 268 787On your first day in court, ask at reception for the duty lawyer. It's free if you don't have a lawyer.
Nearest by distance from the centre of Nelson. Checked 5 October 2026. Offices sometimes move, so call before you go.
Legal aid lawyers in Nelson, A to Z
Every lawyer the Ministry of Justice lists in Nelson, grouped by firm. Call to check they can take your case.
Antony Shaw - Barrister
(027) 22685421 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4CivilAntony Shaw
Black Law
(021) 11002121 legal aid lawyer
Waitangi TribunalLisa Lefever Black
2 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
FamilyCivilWaitangi Tribunal- Deborah Marie Dye-Knighton · Family
- Niall Thomas Upsall Thrupp · Family, Civil, Waitangi Tribunal · (03) 5458080
1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthFiona Emery
David Holloway - Barrister
(03) 54693651 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceDavid Euan Holloway
3 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceCivil- Amanda Blanché Munting-Kilworth · Family, Family legal advice, Civil
- Sara Elizabeth Gracia · Family, Family legal advice · (03) 7443536
- Stacey Marie Tocker · Family, Family legal advice
1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceYvanca Elisabeth Clarisse
Emma Riddell - Barrister
(021) 4432801 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceEmma Jane Riddell
England Law
(03) 548 05811 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyCivilSimon Everest England
Fleur Oback - Barrister
(021) 250 66171 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFleur Catherine Oback
4 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceCivil- Amber Grace O'Rourke · Family
- Claudine Fleur Dupuy · Family, Family legal advice
- Heather Ann McKinnon · Family, Civil
- Jeremy James Jeremy Glasgow · Family, Family legal advice
Ian Miller
(03) 54691951 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceIan Douglas Miller
Ironside Law Limited
(03) 54192271 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceCivilNicole Anna Ironside
John Sandston - Barrister
(027) 60239891 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal adviceJohn Charles Statham Sandston
Jones Law
(021) 13026241 legal aid lawyer
CriminalDuty lawyerFamilyCivilWayne Wayne Jones
Kim Meyer Law
(022) 61972001 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceKim Rachel Meyer
Mark Dollimore Lawyer
(027) 54848991 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyMental healthAndrew Mark Dollimore
Mel Maplesden - Barrister
(03) 92296381 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceMarie Louise Maplesden
Michael Vesty - Barrister
(022) 02270274 legal aid lawyers
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal advice- Alice Ruth Ingrid Zeimann · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4
- Josh Kerry Basil Friend · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer · (021) 02709165
- Michael Joseph Vesty · Criminal · up to level 4 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice, Family · (03) 5481200
- Skye Kimiora Stokes · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer, Family, Family legal advice · (027) 8647932
Nelson Bays Community Law Centre
(03) 54812881 legal aid lawyer
CivilBarbara Kaye Lawrence
Patchett Law
(03) 39937291 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerMental healthRefugee & immigrationLucinda Sarah Jane Patchett
Rob Ord - Barrister & Solicitor
(027) 42964811 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyMental healthRob Wynne Ord
Rout Milner Fitchett
(021) 4776342 legal aid lawyers
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceCivil- Georgia Cait O'Connor · Criminal, Duty lawyer · (03) 5480064
- Luke Simon Burgoyne Acland · Criminal · up to level 2 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice, Civil
Samantha Allen - Barrister
(021) 087501471 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthSamantha Mary Allen
3 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceCivil- Huhana May Carollyn Ginty · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer
- Jacqueline Margaret Stephenson · Family, Family legal advice, Civil
- Tracy Michelle Sawtell · Family, Family legal advice
Tagan Lyall Barrister
(027) 72518841 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal adviceTagan Clare Lyall
Tahuna Law
(03) 53963501 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthBretton James Anderson Daniell-Smith
3 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal adviceCivilFrench- Kris Barry Main · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer, Family, Family legal advice · (03) 5480039
- Maddy Louise Godwin · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer
- Steven Julian Zindel · Criminal · up to level 4 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice, Family, Family legal advice, Civil
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.
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