English
Log inShare your experience

Resources › The justice system › Free legal aid

Free legal aid

Draft, translated: translated from the Norwegian original with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is the authoritative one. See the Norwegian original →

Can't afford a lawyer for a matter that's important to you? You may be entitled to free legal aid. Who can get it, and what should you know?

Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 14 October 2026. Rules and thresholds change, so always check the official site before you act.

Free legal aid is a scheme that helps people who cannot afford to pay for legal assistance themselves. It only applies to cases of particularly great personal and welfare significance, and is not meant for all legal questions.

Who can get free legal aid?

Among other things, you must have low income and low net worth. The County Governor (Statsforvalteren) states these thresholds (checked 21 September 2026):

  • Gross annual income: NOK 350,000 for single people and NOK 540,000 for married couples and cohabitants.
  • Net worth: NOK 150,000.

The thresholds were raised not long ago, so more people can now get help than before. They can change again, so check them with the County Governor.

As a general rule, you will not get free legal aid if you can cover the need in other ways, for example through an insurance policy that covers legal costs, membership in an organisation that covers such costs, or if a public authority can give you information and guidance in your case.

Separate rules apply to certain types of cases. Ask the County Governor or a lawyer about your case.

Deductible (egenandel)

If you get free legal aid, you usually have to pay a deductible share of the costs, which depends on your finances.

How to proceed

  1. Use the legal aid calculator (rettshjelpskalkulatoren) on the County Governor's website to see if you may be entitled.
  2. Contact a lawyer or a legal aid service (rettshjelpstiltak). The lawyer helps you apply to the County Governor.
  3. Bring documentation of your income and net worth.

Free help without a lawyer

If you just need an initial clarification, there are legal aid services that give free legal guidance. Several are run by law students. They do not accept cases by e-mail, so call or use the form on their website:

  • Juss-Buss (Oslo) helps with employment, social security and NAV, pensions, housing, debt and immigration, among other things. Phone 22 84 29 00.
  • Jussformidlingen (Bergen) gives free legal aid to private individuals. Phone 55 58 96 00.
  • Jusshjelpa i Nord-Norge (Tromsø) accepts cases via the form on its website or phone 77 64 45 59.
  • Gatejuristen (Kirkens Bymisjon) gives free outreach legal aid to people who have or have had drug problems.

Also look for services where you live.

Tip: Write down the timeline of your case, and gather letters and decisions in a folder before you contact a lawyer. It saves time, and therefore money.

Statsforvalteren (search for «fri rettshjelp») →

Sources

Kontaktpunkt24 gives general information, not legal advice. If you need help with your own case, contact a lawyer, a legal aid service, or the relevant authority.

This page is translated from Norwegian with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is always the authoritative one.