Paying for an appeal
Legal aid and funded appeals
Legal aid plans can fund appeals where there is merit, courts can sometimes appoint a lawyer, and some organisations help for free.
Ask early
Apply as soon as you know you want to appeal. Do not wait for funding before protecting your deadline: ask how to file the notice of appeal first.
Expect a merit check
Many plans look at your finances and at whether the appeal has a reasonable chance. A lawyer’s short opinion on the merits often forms part of this.
If legal aid says no
Refusals can often be reviewed or appealed inside the plan, and courts in some places can appoint a lawyer when legal aid says no. Ask how to challenge the decision.
Find help where you are
In custody? Ask staff how to reach legal aid: many plans have a line for people in custody. Links open official or organisation websites. Eligibility and funding rules change, so confirm directly with them.