The Law Society of Ireland has today called on Government to make Civil Legal Aid and family justice a priority in Budget 2027, warning that growing demand, lengthy waiting lists and resource shortages are preventing vulnerable people from accessing justice when they need it most.

There are two core statutory legal aid schemes in Ireland: civil and criminal. The Law Society is seeking action on both.  

In its Budget 2027 submission, the Law Society warns that Civil Legal Aid is in crisis, with serious consequences for those who rely on it and for the solicitors who provide these essential services.

The Civil Legal Aid Scheme supports people on low incomes through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, including family breakdown, domestic violence and child custody and maintenance disputes.

Demand for Civil Legal Aid has doubled over the last four years, while waiting times at Law Centres around the country continue to increase.

In 2016, there were 953 solicitors working on the District Court Family Law Panel, which supports clients seeking protection from domestic violence, custody or visitation rights for their children, and child maintenance. By August 2026, this had dropped to 375 solicitors. This represents a 60% collapse.

The Law Society is calling for immediate funding, sustained long-term investment and reform of Civil Legal Aid, including:

• Urgent additional resourcing for the Legal Aid Board, including a 20% increase on the 2026 allocation amounting to an increase of €14.6m.
• An increase in the income threshold for Civil Legal Aid, which is currently set at €18,000 and has not changed since 2006.

President of the Law Society of Ireland, Rosemarie Loftus, said:

“There has been widespread coverage of serious challenges with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. The Civil Legal Aid Scheme is also in real trouble and at risk of collapse. Too many people are waiting too long to access legal assistance at some of the most difficult moments in their lives, including family breakdown, domestic violence and child custody disputes. Right now, the Scheme is failing them.

"No family facing a crisis should have to wait over a year to access legal advice from a solicitor. Yet that is the reality for many people seeking legal help, including victims of domestic violence.

 "Demand for Civil Legal Aid continues to rise, but the pool of solicitors participating in the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has plummeted. Unless urgent action is taken, access to justice will remain out of reach for those who need it most.

“The Legal Aid Board is being asked to do more with insufficient resources and is struggling to retain solicitors. Without immediate and sustained investment, legal aid deserts will continue to grow, and more families will struggle to access legal representation.

“Following decades of underinvestment, meaningful reform must be matched by meaningful investment in the Legal Aid Board. Government has an opportunity in Budget 2027 to rebuild the Civil Legal Aid Scheme to meet demand, support families and restore public confidence.”

Wider Budget 2027 priorities

Alongside its call for urgent reform of Civil Legal Aid, the Law Society’s Budget 2027 submission calls for:

• Additional investment in court infrastructure, judges, court staff, court modernisation and improved justice-sector data.
• A full review of the District Court Criminal Legal Aid scheme introduced on 1 July 2026, together with measures to address exceptional and complex cases, and separate criminal matters heard on the same day.
• Investment in dedicated private consultation rooms, child-friendly facilities and a dedicated security presence in family courts.
• Reductions in the VAT and court duty rates applicable to legal fees, to deliver direct reductions in legal costs to the public.
• The urgent roll-out of the solicitors’ portal for Enduring Powers of Attorney and reform to simplify the preparation and registration process.
• Reforms to speed up conveyancing, including measures relating to planning, local authority requests, statements of truth and eConveyancing.
• The extension of SUSI support to trainee solicitors on part-time professional training programmes, together with increased income thresholds for grant eligibility.
• The establishment of a dedicated non-EEA visa scheme to allow more people to complete their training as solicitors in Ireland.