Get legal help

Aide juridictionnelle is state funding for the cost of a court case and your lawyer's fees. Separately, the point-justice network gives free information about your rights, whether or not you have a case.

Aide juridictionnelle applies where you have a court procedure and your income and assets are below the thresholds. The bureau d'aide juridictionnelle decides; it can be granted in full or in part.

For aide juridictionnelle, when you have a procedure before a court. For free information, at any point — a point-justice is open to anyone.

Online for a case before a tribunal judiciaire or a cour d'appel, otherwise on cerfa form 16146 filed with the bureau d'aide juridictionnelle of the court where you live. Point-justice sites are listed in the justice.gouv.fr directory.

Applying is free, and where it is granted the state pays the lawyer directly rather than you.

• The bureau d'aide juridictionnelle decides and tells you whether the cover is full or partial.
• You can name the lawyer you want, or ask the bar to designate one for you.
• For information rather than representation, the point-justice network offers free, confidential appointments; the directory lists roughly 2,000 sites and 30 39 is the national access-to-law number.