LEGAL AID AGENCY DIRECTORY
Shanahans Solicitors & Advocates
Crime: appeals and reviews · Crime: investigation and proceedings · Cardiff
Listed legal-aid serviceSource dated 9 July 2026Office and service details
- Crime: appeals and reviews
- Crime: investigation and proceedings
Location map
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Open a larger mapPreparing for your first enquiry
Criminal-law enquiries
Explain whether you need advice about an investigation, court proceedings, an appeal or a prison-law issue. Give the next court date and say whether another solicitor has already acted. Bring charge sheets, bail information and correspondence relevant to the enquiry.
Confirm the person responsible for your matter, how progress will be explained and whether meetings can take place remotely. Do not send original documents or confidential case details until you have checked the firm’s contact details and agreed how to share them.
Check that this provider can help
This office is listed for Crime: appeals and reviews · Crime: investigation and proceedings in the Legal Aid Agency directory dated 9 July 2026. Contract categories describe funded work; they do not confirm that the provider can take your particular case.
- Explain your legal problem and any urgent deadline.
- Ask if the office is accepting legal-aid cases in this category.
- Ask what evidence is needed for an eligibility assessment.
- Confirm whether advice is by phone, online or in person.
How eligibility works for these services
Legal aid for criminal work depends on the service you need. For representation in criminal court proceedings, the assessment generally considers your finances and whether the case meets the interests-of-justice test. Your household circumstances and essential living costs can affect the financial assessment; Crown Court cases may involve contributions.
Advice at a police station is free, regardless of your income. Appeals, reviews and prison-law advice have their own scope and eligibility rules. A listing for one category does not mean that every criminal-law service is covered.
Criminal legal-aid eligibility · Financial assessment and contributions.
What to have ready
Bring the documents about your legal problem and any court date or deadline. The provider will tell you which financial evidence applies; this may include recent payslips, benefit information, bank statements, housing costs and details of savings or property. Explain if you cannot obtain a document rather than delaying an urgent enquiry.
Does this listing mean I will get free representation?
No. It identifies a published Legal Aid Agency service category. The provider must confirm that your matter is within scope, that it can accept the case and that the relevant funding tests are satisfied.
How do I apply?
Contact a provider offering the relevant category, explain your problem and mention any deadline. The provider can assess the application and explain what it needs. Court Guide does not make funding decisions or submit applications.
What if the provider cannot take my case?
Ask whether the issue is capacity, the type of work or funding eligibility. Try another listed provider in the correct category, use the official legal-adviser finder or ask about other advice services. A refusal by one office does not by itself decide whether you qualify.
Rules checked against GOV.UK and Legal Aid Agency guidance on 8 September 2026. This explains the process and is not an individual eligibility decision.
Official funding tools
Eligibility rules depend on the legal problem and funding scheme. A provider can explain the assessment that applies. For civil problems, the GOV.UK eligibility service is a useful starting point.