Legal Professionals

The District Court Family Law Panel is our busiest solicitors panel. Just under 34,000 legal aid cases were referred to private solicitors under this panel over the last five years. Generally about 6,000 - 8,000 legal aid cases in the District Court are annually referred to the Panel. 

This Panel is for family law work in the District Court, or appeals to the Circuit Court, covering private family law work under the following Acts:

• Guardianship of Infants Act 1964
• Domestic Violence Act 1996
• Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976

The cases we refer under this Act tend to be applications for domestic violence remedies, or disputes regarding access or custody of children, or applications for maintenance outside of the context of divorce/separation proceedings. A significant number of the cases are in the Dublin Metropolitan District Court in Dolphin House.

The Judicial Separation and Divorce Solicitors Panel is our panel of solicitors for judicial separation and divorce matters in the Circuit Court.  It also covers separations concluded by way of separation agreement. 

This panel covers the provision of legal advice in relation to the conclusion of a separation agreement. It also covers legal aid in relation to judicial separation and divorce in the Circuit Court.

Please note that the Panel does not cover High Court appeals. If a legally aided person wishes to appeal their case to the High Court, then they should be referred to a Law Centre.

The Legal Aid Board is seeking solicitors in private practice with an interest in child care law to join its new Public Law Child Care Solicitors Panel which is being established with effect from 1st October 2022.

Solicitors who are successfully entered on the Panel will provide legal advice and legal aid to parents of children who are the subject of child care proceedings and who have:

• Been granted a legal aid certificate by the Board; and
• Referred to the Panel in accordance with management guidelines.

The Panel covers applications in the District Court under Parts III and IV of the Child Care Act 1991, that is, applications by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) for emergency, interim, and full care orders and supervision orders and related matters. 

Applications for special care orders (Part IV A) are not within the scope of the Panel.

Join a panel driven by passion and purpose

The International Protection Solicitors Panel makes a real difference in the lives of those seeking international protection. As a solicitor, your expertise can change lives by offering legal support to these individuals.

This panel provides a vital role in providing legal assistance to international protection applicants throughout their journey, from initial applications to appeals. As a member of this panel you will contribute to impactful outcomes, receive comprehensive training, and enhance your professional growth.

Benefits of joining the panel

• Impactful outcomes: As a member of this panel, you will directly contribute to impactful outcomes by providing access to justice for those seeking international protection. Your work will make a tangible difference in the lives of people seeking refuge and safety.
• Training opportunities: The area of international protection is dynamic and complex, requiring continuous learning and adaption. Our panel offers comprehensive training opportunities for you, including a week-long course delivered in conjunction with the UNHCR. This training equips you with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate the international protection process.
• Professional development: Joining this panel provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your professional growth and development. You will have access to a network of legal professionals who share a commitment to international protection; fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and career advancement.

A Scheme, called Abhaile, was announced on 22nd January 2016 by the Minister for Justice and Equality to help people who are insolvent and in mortgage arrears on their home, to access independent financial and legal advice. Abhaile is co-ordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Social Protection, in co-operation with relevant agencies including the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) (which acts as the gateway for people to access advice under the Scheme), the Insolvency Service of Ireland, the Citizens Information Board and the Legal Aid Board.

The Legal Aid Board has established a panel of solicitors willing to provide the following services to persons eligible for Abhaile:

• A Solicitor Consultation Service;
• A 'Duty Solicitor' service at court (repossession lists), and
• A Personal Insolvency Arrangement Review Legal Aid Service.

The Board has established a panel of solicitors who are willing to provide services to persons who have been granted a legal aid certificate by the Board for the purpose of  advice and representation in relation to any of the 8 categories of cases set out in Section 60 (5) of the Coroners Act 1962 (inserted by Section 24(b) of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013).

Scope of the Scheme

•  the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in the custody of the Garda Síochána,

• the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in custody in a prison

• the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in service custody

• the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, involuntarily detained under Part 2 of the Mental Health Act 2001 in an approved centre within the meaning of section 2 of that Act,

• the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, detained in a designated centre within the meaning of section 3 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 or was a person to whom section 20 of that Act refers

• the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, remanded in a remand centre within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 2001 or detained in a children detention school within the meaning of that section,

• the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, a child in care,

• the death of the deceased was a maternal death or a late maternal death, or

• the coroner is of the opinion that the death of the deceased occurred in circumstances the continuance or possible recurrence of which would be prejudicial to the health or safety of the public or any section of the public such that there is a significant public interest in the family member of the deceased person being granted legal aid or legal advice, or both, for the purposes of the inquest concerned.

Operation of the scheme

Persons seeking legal services in respect of a coroners inquest as provided under section 60(1) of the Coroners Act 1962 must make their applications for legal representation to a coroner.

If a request for legal services under Section 60 (4) of the Coroners Act 1962 is subsequently made by a coroner to the Board  that a named  person be provided with legal services under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 the named person must additionally  satisfy the requirements in respect of  financial eligibility specified in Section 29 of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995  and in Regulations made under Section 37 of the said Act and pay to the Board a contribution towards the cost of providing the legal services determined in accordance with regulations under Section 37. 

Once a request for legal services under Section 60 (4) of the Coroners Act 1962 is received from a coroner the Legal Aid Board will send a letter to the nominated family member which:

• Informs them of their nearest Law Centre

• Encloses an application form for legal aid

• Encloses copies of the Board’s information leaflets on financial contributions and on completing the application form.

Since the 1st November 2006, if a person is admitted to hospital against their will (involuntary patient), they are entitled to have a mental health tribunal within 21 days of their admission. The Mental Health Commission is responsible for establishing these tribunals.

A mental health tribunal consists of three people, as follows:

• A legal member (a barrister or solicitor who will act as Chairman)
• A lay person
• A consultant psychiatrist

The tribunal will listen to the facts surrounding the case, and make sure that a person is only detained in hospital in keeping with the law. Patients have the right to be represented at the mental health tribunal by a legal representative who is appointed by the Mental Health Commission. They will also arrange for an independent medical examination to be carried out by a Consultant Psychiatrist. Patients have the right to attend their tribunal if they want to.

The function of the mental health tribunal is to either revoke or affirm an admission or renewal order. Mental health tribunals can also consider proposed transfers to the Central Mental Hospital and proposals related to the use of psycho-surgery.

If you have a query about providing legal aid at mental health tribunals, contact the Mental Health Commission.

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