Means-testing and Qualifying Criteria for Pro Bono Legal Representation from Legal Aid Bureau

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Law in order for an individual to pass the means test before qualifying for pro-bono legal representation from the Legal Aid Bureau (a) whether an individual is obliged to declare assets held overseas, such as property; (b) whether such overseas assets are taken into account for the purposes of the means test; and (c) if not, why not.

In order to qualify for legal aid, an applicant will have to pass both a means test and a merits test. For the means test, the applicant has to declare all savings, investments and property, including those overseas, which will be taken into account as part of the means test assessment.