Response timeframes
Legal Aid Services endeavours to respond to all correspondence in a timely manner based on the following timeframes:
Criminal applications: One working day
Family applications: Three working days
Civil applications: Five working days
Waitangi applications: Five working days
Invoices: 15 working days
All other correspondence: 10 working days
If you do not receive a response within the timeframes noted above, please call Legal Aid Services on 0800 253 425.
Auckland Legal Aid
The Auckland Legal Aid Office is responsible for the management of criminal, civil, and family files for Northland and Auckland. They also manage refugee, and immigration matters across all regions.
Email: AKLCriminallegalaid@justice.govt.nz
AKLFamilylegalaid@justice.govt.nz
AKLCivillegalaid@justice.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 253 425
Postal Address: BX10660
Wellington Legal Aid
The Wellington Legal Aid Office is responsible for the management of criminal, civil, and family files for the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, and the South Island. They also manage Waitangi Tribunal matters across all regions.
Email: WGNCriminallegalaid@justice.govt.nz
WGNFamilylegalaid@justice.govt.nz
WGNCivillegalaid@justice.govt.nz
Waitangilegalaid@justice.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 253 425
Postal Address: SX10146
Debt Management Group
The Debt Management Group is responsible for recovering and securing outstanding legal aid debt. They are the first point of contact for clients with an outstanding legal aid debt.
Email: legalaiddebt@justice.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 600 090
Postal Address: SX11295
Legal Aid Providers
The Legal Aid Providers team is responsible for approving and contracting with legal aid lawyers. They can provide assistance with applications for approval to provide legal aid services and answer queries about the legal aid contract for services.
Email: legalaidprovider@justice.govt.nz
Phone: 04 466 0666