Complementary to pro bono services or legal advice services, access to justice can be facilitated through legal aid systems.  Available in all Member States, such systems allow those with insufficient resources to meet the costs of a court case or legal representation. National schemes can differ on the potential beneficiaries and type of support provided.

Some systems aim at making legal services and access to justice generally available, while others only provide it to the poorest individuals. In some countries legal aid consist of free representation or assistance by a lawyer or a dispensation from paying the costs of proceedings.  The European Justice Portal provides an overview of the national practices.