Legal aid for asylum seekers in Ireland

Information

Free legal aid is available to asylum seekers in Ireland through the Refugee Legal Service to assist at all stages of the asylum process. This includes at the time of the initial application, first interview, appeals and advice on deportation. Alternatively, you may also engage the services of a solicitor on a commercial basis at your own expense. You may also consult with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Irish Refugee Council provides legal services, albeit on a limited scale. This consists principally of advice and support to asylum seekers. Issues covered include making an application for asylum and interview preparation.

You should seek legal advice as early as possible in the process for asylum.

Refugee Legal Service

The Refugee Legal Service is an office established by the Legal Aid Board to provide confidential and independent legal services to persons applying for asylum in Ireland. Legal aid and advice is also provided in appropriate cases on deportation orders. The Refugee Legal Service provides a confidential service to all persons who contact it. To qualify for legal aid you must pass a means test - see 'Rules' below.

The Legal Aid Board is an independent statutory body providing legal services in civil matters.

Legal services provided

A person who makes an application for legal services will be assisted as soon as possible. Assistance will be provided in the following way:

• The Refugee Legal Service will generally assist in applications for asylum by providing advice to you before you submit your questionnaire to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or before you attend your interview in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner
• The Refugee Legal Service can make written submissions to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in support of your application for asylum
• The Refugee Legal Service can provide representation before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal
• Where an application for refugee status is refused, the Refugee Legal Service can assist generally in the submission of applications in accordance with the Immigration Act 1999 and matters arising from this submission
• The Refugee Legal Service can assist in relation to deportation orders and Judicial Review procedures.

Rules

Means test

To qualify for legal services, your income, less certain allowances, must be less than €18,000 and you must pay a minimum contribution of €10 for legal advice and €50 for representation before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal or for representation before the High Court. If you have already paid an advice contribution of €10 the balance of the aid contribution due will be €40.

People who are only receiving social welfare payments will generally be eligible for legal services at the minimum contribution. People in Direct Provision may apply to have some of their contribution waived, which is at the discretion of the Legal Aid Board.

Requirements of people seeking assistance

If you become a client of the Refugee Legal Service you must:

• Keep the Refugee Legal Service advised at all times of your current address.
• Attend at all appointments made for you with your caseworker or solicitor in the Refugee Legal Service. Strict limits apply at all stages of the asylum process and failure to attend appointments on time may result in the Refugee Legal Service being unable to provide a service to you.

How to apply

Call to the office or telephone the Refugee Legal Service for an appointment.

Where to apply