Legal aid Hong Kong: means test limits and how to apply

Legal aid in Hong Kong is run by the Legal Aid Department (LAD). If you qualify, LAD provides representation by a solicitor and, where needed, a barrister in court proceedings. You must pass two tests: a means test on your financial resources and a merits test on your case. From 27 March 2026 the means test limit is HK$452,320 for the Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme and HK$2,261,600 for the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme, according to LAD’s 2026 announcement.

Who can apply and for which courts

LAD’s FAQ says any person involved in court proceedings in Hong Kong may apply, whether or not they are a Hong Kong resident. Under the Legal Aid Ordinance, an applicant who passes both the means test and the merits test is eligible. In civil cases, legal aid is available for proceedings in the District Court, the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal. Criminal cases have their own scheme, covered below.

The means test

LAD’s financial eligibility page says your financial resources are your monthly disposable income multiplied by 12, plus your disposable capital.

• Disposable income is net monthly income after allowable deductions, such as rent, rates and a statutory allowance for your own and your dependants’ living expenses. The allowance depends on household size.
• Disposable capital leaves out some assets, for example the house you live in, household furniture and effects, personal clothing, and tools and implements of trade.

LAD also publishes a Financial Information Sheet, revised on 1 June 2026, with the current allowances. If your resources are over the limit, the Director of Legal Aid may waive it in some cases if satisfied that this is in the interests of justice, subject to a contribution at higher rates.

The merits test

LAD says the merits test decides whether you have a reasonable claim or defence, or whether granting legal aid is otherwise justified. Passing the means test alone is not enough.

How to apply in a civil case

1. Send pre-application information. If you are 18 or over and the case is not urgent, LAD’s application procedures let you do this through the Legal Aid Electronic Services Portal. You answer key questions, then complete and send the Legal Aid Pre-application Information Form online.
2. Keep your reference number. LAD acknowledges receipt and assigns a transaction reference number.
3. Attend the appointment. On the day you are means tested, and you may be asked for a detailed statement about your case so LAD can assess its merits.
4. Bring the papers. Take documents about your income, savings and the case itself. Ask LAD what it needs when it confirms the appointment.

If your case is urgent, or you are under 18, the online route does not apply. Check the application procedures page for how to apply directly.

Ordinary scheme and Supplementary scheme

The Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme covers people within the HK$452,320 limit. Depending on your assessed financial resources, you may have to pay a contribution when legal aid is accepted; LAD publishes the scale on its contributions pages.

The Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme has the higher HK$2,261,600 limit, but covers only specified kinds of civil case. These include claims for personal injuries or death; medical, dental or legal professional negligence; other professional negligence; negligence claims against insurers or their intermediaries; and monetary claims against vendors of first-hand residential property. For most of these the claim must be likely to exceed HK$75,000. Claims by employees under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, and representation for employees in appeals against Labour Tribunal awards, are covered whatever the amount.

LAD’s Supplementary scheme contributions page sets out the costs:

• a non-refundable application fee of HK$1,000 for personal injury or death claims, employees’ compensation claims and employees’ Labour Tribunal appeals;
• a non-refundable application fee of HK$5,000 for other case types, plus, if legal aid is granted, an interim contribution of 10% of your assessed financial resources or HK$113,080, whichever is higher; and
• if the case succeeds, a percentage of the damages you recover is paid into the Supplementary Legal Aid Fund. The rate depends on when the case ends, so read LAD’s page for the current figures.

Legal aid in criminal cases

LAD’s criminal eligibility page uses the same HK$452,320 limit. Under rule 15(2) of the Legal Aid in Criminal Cases Rules, the Director may grant legal aid above that limit if satisfied that it is desirable in the interests of justice. If you are charged with an offence in a magistrates’ court, LAD says to approach the liaison office of the Duty Lawyer Scheme at that court.

Free advice and other options

LAD provides representation, not a general advice line. For free preliminary advice, the Duty Lawyer Service runs the Free Legal Advice Scheme through Legal Advice Centres in District Offices. Some disputes go to tribunals with their own procedures; see our guides to the Small Claims Tribunal and the Labour Tribunal.

If you do not qualify and decide to pay privately, see how to instruct a solicitor and check any firm on the Law List. ranked.hk is not the Legal Aid Department and cannot assess your eligibility; this page is not legal advice. Our law directory lists firms from their own websites, and a listing is not a legal aid assignment.