19Circumstances in which legal aid may be provided

### 19 Circumstances in which legal aid may be provided > > (1)  [*\[Section 19 Subsection (1) amended by No. 26 of 2020, s. 21, Applied:01 Mar 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-03-01/act-2020-026#GS21@Hpa@EN) Subject to [subsection (2A)](#GS19@Gs2A@EN) , the Commission may provide legal aid to a person only if – > > > > > > (a) the person is unable to afford the cost of obtaining from private legal practitioners the legal assistance or legal services in respect of which legal aid is sought; or > > > > > > > (ab) [*\[Section 19 Subsection (1) amended by No. 63 of 2013, s. 19, Applied:01 Mar 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-03-01/act-2013-063#GS19@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 19 Subsection (1) amended by No. 26 of 2020, s. 21, Applied:01 Mar 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-03-01/act-2020-026#GS21@Hpb@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > > > > > (b) it is reasonable in all the circumstances to provide the legal aid. > > > (2)  In making a decision whether a person should be provided with legal aid, the Commission shall have regard to all relevant matters, including – > > > > > > (a) the income of the person and of each person associated with the person; and > > > > > > > (b) the cash that is readily available to the person or can be made so available; and > > > > > > > (c) the debts, liabilities and other financial obligations of the person; and > > > > > > > (d) the cost of living; and > > > > > > > (e) the cost of obtaining legal assistance or legal services from a private legal practitioner; and > > > > > > > (f) any other matter affecting the ability of the person to meet the cost of obtaining legal assistance or legal services from a private legal practitioner; and > > > > > > > (g) the nature and extent of a benefit that may accrue to the person or to the public from the provision of legal aid; and > > > > > > > (h) the nature and extent of any detriment that may be suffered by the person or by the public if legal aid is not provided; and > > > > > > > (i) [*\[Section 19 Subsection (2) amended by No. 63 of 2013, s. 19, Applied:01 Mar 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-03-01/act-2013-063#GS19@Hpb@EN) in the case of legal aid relating to a proceeding in a court – whether the proceeding is likely to terminate in a manner favourable to the person; and > > > > > > > (j) [*\[Section 19 Subsection (2) amended by No. 63 of 2013, s. 19, Applied:01 Mar 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-03-01/act-2013-063#GS19@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 19 Subsection (2) amended by No. 26 of 2020, s. 21, Applied:01 Mar 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-03-01/act-2020-026#GS21@Hpc@EN) [limitations on the person’s right to cross-examine a witness or person under section 8A](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-079#GS8A@EN) of the [Evidence (Children and Special Witnesses) Act 2001](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-079) . > > > (2A)  [*\[Section 19 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 26 of 2020, s. 21, Applied:01 Mar 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-03-01/act-2020-026#GS21@Hpd@EN) The Commission is to provide legal aid to a person in accordance with [section 8A](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-079#GS8A@EN) of the [Evidence (Children and Special Witnesses) Act 2001](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2001-079) if a judge makes an order under that section directing that an unrepresented defendant be given assistance under this Act. > > > (3)  Legal aid shall not be provided to a person who is not ordinarily resident in the State except if the legal aid relates to – > > > > > > (a) a proceeding in a court in the State; or > > > > > > > (b) a matter arising under a law in force in the State. > > > (4)  A reference in [subsection (2)](#GS19@Gs2@EN) [(a)](#GS19@Gs2@Hpa@EN) to a person who is associated with a person is a reference to – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 19 Subsection (4) amended by No. 45 of 2003, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jan 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-01-01/act-2003-045#JS1@Ja40@GC1@Hpa@EN) the spouse or partner of the person; or > > > > > > > (b) a person who is financially responsible for, or who provides financial support to, that person. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 19 Subsection (5) inserted by No. 45 of 2003, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jan 2004\]*](/view/html/inforce/2004-01-01/act-2003-045#JS1@Ja40@GC1@Hpb@EN) For the purpose of [subsection (4)](#GS19@Gs4@EN) , > > > > > ***partner*** means the person with whom a person is in a personal relationship, within the meaning of the [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) .