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legal aid

American  

noun

  1. free legal service to persons unable to pay for a lawyer.


legal aid British  

noun

  1. a means-tested benefit in the form of financial assistance for persons to meet the cost of advice and representation in legal proceedings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of legal aid

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Contact your local legal aid organization or your county or state bar association to ask about pro bono or reduced-fee representation.

From MarketWatch Jul. 9, 2026

He offered pro bono legal aid to farm worker groups in the Central Valley and won headline-making settlements for police brutality victims in Orange County, from Latina immigrants to white supremacists.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 17, 2026

Many people seeking redress for alleged unfair dismissal go to court as "litigants in person" because they cannot get legal aid to pay for a professional lawyer.

From BBC May 20, 2026

Foundation, which provides meals and reading resources to students in Oakland, Calif. Glide provides meals, healthcare and legal aid to homeless and other vulnerable individuals in San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal May 15, 2026

Barack activated his network of community organizers to connect us with legal aid, advocacy, and teaching opportunities.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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