Legal Aid Malta
Government Legal Aid Agency · '188-189' Old Bakery Street, Valletta, Malta
Enquire through VisitMalta.co.ukServices, hours and details last checked against Legal Aid Malta's own published information.
Legal Aid Malta Agency is the government body that arranges publicly funded legal representation for people who cannot afford a lawyer, based on Old Bakery Street in Valletta. It supports civil and criminal legal aid, including domestic violence and cross-border cases. Enquiries can be sent through the VisitMalta.co.uk form on this page.
Legal Aid Malta Agency is part of the Maltese public service, and its purpose is to make sure that people who cannot afford a lawyer still have professional representation before the courts. Its vision is that everyone in society has access to a justice system that defends their rights, and its motto is Equal Justice for All. The agency sits on Old Bakery Street in Valletta, close to the capital's law courts, and is listed on VisitMalta.co.uk under government services in Malta and lawyers in Malta.
It is not a private law firm, so it is relevant mainly to people who are in a dispute before Maltese courts and cannot meet legal costs. UK visitors and residents who simply need a solicitor to buy property or form a company will be better served by one of the private firms in our lawyers directory.
What the agency is and how it works
The agency was established by Legal Notice 414 of 2014. Its function is to give operational and administrative support to the legal aid services, and the procedure for applications is set out in the Legal Aid Agency (Procedures) Order 2016. The team has a legal side and an administrative side under the Director for legal aid services. Legal aid lawyers and legal procurators are selected after a public call and appointed by the Minister of Justice, working alongside public officers.
The mission is to ensure that every eligible person is professionally and legally represented across a broad spectrum of litigation and defence, so that their rights are safeguarded in a democratic society. The agency also offers an online consultation and lets users rate its service.
Civil and criminal legal aid
In civil litigation, legal aid depends on a means test and a merits test: the applicant must be unable to afford a lawyer and the case must have reasonable prospects. Partial legal aid does not exist in Malta, so an applicant is either granted aid or refused. If it is granted, it covers the applicant's court costs, exempts them from fees and security for costs, and extends to every level, including appeals. Companies registered under the Companies Act are not entitled to legal aid.
In criminal cases there is no means test. In summary proceedings before the Court of Magistrates, the court appoints the advocate whose turn it is on the daily roster. In other cases the accused tells the court that legal aid is wanted, and the request is passed to the resident legal aid lawyer at the agency. For urgent situations, such as the issue of a warrant, the law allows provisional authorisation to file specific court acts before the means and merits assessment is complete.
The agency also provides services for victims of domestic violence and victims of crime, and has a cross-border legal aid section for disputes involving other countries. Applicants who already have a private lawyer must provide a release letter before the agency can take over the case.
How to apply
Applications can be made at selected Servizz.gov hubs in Birgu, Żejtun, Birkirkara and St Paul's Bay, through the agency's online portal, or in person at its offices in Valletta. The application is sworn by the applicant once the documents relevant to the claim have been uploaded or handed in; for an annulment of marriage, for example, a copy of the marriage certificate is attached. Anyone visiting the Birgu hub can read our Vittoriosa guide and Three Cities guide to see the area.
Applicants are informed by SMS, telephone, letter or email whether aid has been granted, and given the name and mobile details of the assigned lawyer and legal procurator, chosen from a list according to the rota. There is no appeal against a refusal, though an applicant who disagrees with an unfavourable report from the legal aid advocate may file an application with the Civil Court to review it.
Visiting the Valletta office
The agency is at 188-189 Old Bakery Street, Valletta, and is open Monday to Friday. Our Valletta guide helps you plan a visit to the capital, and anyone arriving from the UK can check our page on flights to Malta. For wider questions about moving or working here, see our guide to relocating to Malta, the Malta tax guide for UK nationals and our about Malta page.
If you need company services rather than legal aid, our featured partner CLA Malta covers formation and tax work. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page for a general question and we will pass your message to the agency.
Questions about Legal Aid Malta
What does Legal Aid Malta Agency do?
It supports state-funded legal representation for people who cannot afford a lawyer, handling civil and criminal legal aid, domestic violence and victim of crime services, and cross-border cases, with applications processed under the 2016 procedures order.
Where is the agency and when is it open?
It is at 188-189 Old Bakery Street, Valletta. Offices open Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 14:00 from 1 October to 15 June, and 08:30 to 12:30 from 16 June to 30 September.
How do I apply for legal aid?
You can apply at the Servizz.gov hubs in Birgu, Żejtun, Birkirkara or St Paul's Bay, through the online portal, or at the Valletta office. You must attach documents that match the subject of your claim.
Is legal aid means tested?
In civil cases, yes: applicants must pass both a means test and a merits test. In criminal cases legal aid is not means tested, and the court appoints or confirms a lawyer for the accused.
Does legal aid cover all my costs?
It covers the applicant's court costs and exempts them from fees and security for costs, including at appeal level. Malta has no partial legal aid, so you are either granted it or refused.
How do I get in touch about this page?
Send your message through the enquiry form on this VisitMalta.co.uk page and we will pass it to the agency. For an actual legal aid application, use the hubs, portal or Valletta office.
Practical information
The agency is at 188-189 Old Bakery Street, Valletta. Offices are open Monday to Friday, from 08:30 to 14:00 between 1 October and 15 June, and from 08:30 to 12:30 between 16 June and 30 September. Applications can also be made at selected Servizz.gov hubs and online. To ask a question about the agency, use the enquiry form on this page and VisitMalta.co.uk will pass your message on.
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The details on this page were correct on 25 October 2026, as published on the Legal Aid Malta website. Services, prices and hours can change, so please confirm when you enquire.