This page is for solicitors and barristers doing legally aided work.
The Courts Service maintains the Criminal Legal Aid Panel for solicitors. Criminal legal aid payments and arrangements for barristers are dealt with by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Civil and family legal aid panels are managed separately by the Legal Aid Board.
Who to contact
| What you need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Joining the Criminal Legal Aid Panel or updating your details | Legal Aid Panel Team, Courts Service – legalaidpanel@courts.ie |
| Criminal legal aid payment queries | Legal Aid Payment Section, Department of Justice – legalaid@justice.ie |
| Backdating queries | Department of Justice – criminallegalaid@justice.ie |
Barrister arrangements and civil and family legal aid panels are covered separately below.
Criminal Legal Aid Panel for solicitors
The Legal Aid Team of the Courts Service maintains the Criminal Legal Aid Panel for solicitors.
Solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work must be included on the appropriate panel.
Annual applications are no longer required
Since 26 November 2025, solicitors who are already included on the Criminal Legal Aid Panel do not need to submit a new application each year.
You also do not need to submit an eTax Clearance Certificate annually to the Courts Service Legal Aid Team.
Tax compliance remains a condition for payment and is checked by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Who needs to apply?
You need to submit an application if you are:
- joining the Criminal Legal Aid Panel for the first time
- seeking reinstatement after previously being included on the panel
- changing firm or updating details where a new application is required
If you are already included on the panel and none of these circumstances apply, you do not need to submit an annual application.
Apply to join or update your details
If you are joining the Criminal Legal Aid Panel for the first time, seeking reinstatement or need to submit an application because your details have changed, use our step-by-step application guide.
The guide explains:
- how to check whether you need to apply
- the tax clearance information you need
- how to complete the Criminal Legal Aid Panel Application Form
- how to choose the county panels you want to join
- where to send your application
- what happens after your application is received
Apply to join or update your details on the Criminal Legal Aid Panel
Criminal Legal Aid Panel queries
For questions about joining the panel or updating your details, contact:
Legal Aid Panel Team
Centralised Office
Castlebar Courthouse
Co. Mayo
F23 KT99
Telephone: 094 904 3812 / 094 904 3813
Email:
legalaidpanel@courts.ie
Payments and queries
The Courts Service maintains the Criminal Legal Aid Panel for solicitors, but payments under the main Criminal Legal Aid Scheme are dealt with by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Payment queries
For criminal legal aid payment queries, contact:
Legal Aid Payment Section
FSS Killarney
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Deerpark Road
Killarney
Co. Kerry
V93 KH28
Telephone: 064 667 0391
Email:
legalaid@justice.ie
Criminal legal aid information from the Department of Justice
Backdating queries
Queries about backdating panel membership or payments should be directed to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Email: criminallegalaid@justice.ie
Criminal legal aid for barristers
The Criminal Legal Aid Panel maintained by the Courts Service is a panel for solicitors.
Criminal legal aid fees and payment arrangements for barristers are dealt with by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Barristers should use the Department's guidance for information about fees, claims and payment arrangements.
Criminal legal aid information from the Department of Justice
Barrister fee claims for District Court and Circuit Court appeal work
Civil and family legal aid panels
The Criminal Legal Aid Panel maintained by the Courts Service is separate from the panels used for civil and family legal aid.
The Legal Aid Board maintains a number of external panels of private solicitors and barristers and manages applications, membership requirements and payment arrangements for those panels.
Solicitor panels
Legal Aid Board solicitor panels cover a number of areas of work. These include:
- District Court family law
- separation and divorce proceedings in the Circuit Court
- childcare proceedings
- international protection
- assisted decision-making
- mental health tribunals
- inquests
- Abhaile
Legal Aid Board information for legal professionals
Barristers undertaking civil and family legal aid work
The Legal Aid Board also maintains a panel for barristers undertaking civil legal aid work and a separate sub-panel for international protection work.
Information about applying, terms and conditions and fee claims is available from the Legal Aid Board.
Legal Aid Board barristers' panel
