Legal Aid and your location

Your home location can affect access to Legal Aid. 
 

What if I live in Alderney?

There are special arrangements under the Legal Aid Schemes in respect of applicants who are Alderney residents. The Guernsey Legal Aid Service has entered an agreement with three Guernsey firms of Advocates to provide legal aid services for the residents of Alderney in respect of criminal and civil proceedings that come before the Alderney Court.

No Advocate, other than from one of the Alderney Firms may represent a defendant as Court Duty Advocate in Alderney under the Scheme unless the Administrator has approved the same in advance. The Court Duty Advocate is provided to a defendant free of charge. If a defendant wants to use a particular Advocate who is not the Court Duty Advocate, the defendant will have to pay for their choice of advocate privately.

If you reside in Alderney and require advice and assistance in relation to proceedings before the Guernsey Royal Court, such as divorce and ancillaries or serious criminal cases, any Guernsey Firm of Advocates can assist you.

Please see link to the list of Advocates who undertake work in the Alderney Court, Guide to Arrangements for Alderney Advocates and a List of Guernsey Firms who undertake legal aid work generally.  

What if I live in Sark?

Legal Aid may be available for civil and criminal proceedings in the Court of the Sénéschal in Sark. If you reside in Sark and require advice and assistance in connection with proceedings in the Guernsey Royal Court, such as divorce and ancillaries or serious criminal cases, any Guernsey Firm of Advocates can assist you.

Please see link to a List of Guernsey Firms who undertake legal aid work.  
 

What if I live outside the Bailiwick of Guernsey?

If you live outside the Bailiwick of Guernsey (Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark) you must first obtain agreement from the Legal Aid Administrator before seeking advice from an Advocate under the Green Form Scheme. Such persons are, in principle, entitled to legal aid in matters involving a Bailiwick Court.

For example, a holidaymaker from Holland could apply for advice under the Green Form Scheme and might also be given legal aid to bring a claim against a Guernsey resident following an accident in Guernsey or someone living in the UK wishes to seek contact with their child who lives in Guernsey.

Please contact the Legal Aid team directly to discuss.
 

What if I live in the Bailiwick of Guernsey but I require legal advice for a matter outside the Bailiwick?

Legal aid is not available to a person living in the Bailiwick in connection with any legal matters outside the Bailiwick. For example, if a Guernsey resident has an accident whilst on holiday in Spain then public funds cannot be used to assist their claim.

A person living in one island of the Bailiwick who wishes to have advice involving the law of another island must first obtain agreement of the Administrator before making an appointment with an Advocate.