The State’s special circumstances

The State’s special circumstances
A person who is applying for a grant of legal assistance for a State matter will come within the State’s ‘special circumstances’ if they:
- are under 18 years old
- have a language or literacy problem
or - have an intellectual or psychiatric disability.
This guideline does not apply to traffic matters heard in the Magistrates' Court.
Definition of intellectual or psychiatric disability
‘Intellectual or psychiatric disability’ means a disability which has resulted in a person either:
- being registered as an ‘eligible person’ under the Disability Act 2006
- receiving services from an approved mental health service under the Mental Health Act 1986.