Get accredited by NLAS as a paralegal or legal aid provider
National Legal Aid Service · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Fill Form NLAS 5 and hand it in at the NLAS office nearest where you work, with a tax compliance certificate, your CV and the fee. Paralegals must have done a CLE-approved paralegal course, work under an advocate or accredited provider, and belong to a registered paralegal association.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Advocate, 0-3 yearsKSh 3,000Advocate, 3-5 yearsKSh 5,000Advocate, 5-10 yearsKSh 7,000Advocate, above 10 yearsKSh 10,000Law firmKSh 10,000Paralegal organisationKSh 10,000Civil society or public benefit organisation
- Where
- In person at an NLAS office: Nairobi HQ (Kenya Charity Sweepstake House, Mama Ngina Street), Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru, Tana River, Marsabit or Isiolo.
What you need
- Form NLAS 5 (application for accreditation), in the First Schedule of the Legal Aid (General) Regulations, 2022
- A valid tax compliance certificate
- Individuals: an up-to-date CV with contacts of at least two character referees
- Paralegals: proof of membership of a registered paralegal association
- Advocates: a valid practising certificate and an LSK certificate of good standing
- Organisations: a certificate of registration (or founding instrument) and a profile with your governance structure and the bios of the paralegals or advocates who will give legal aid
Steps
- Check you're eligible. You can't offer legal aid under the Legal Aid Act unless NLAS has accredited you.
- Fill Form NLAS 5 and gather your supporting documents and the fee.
- Submit it at the NLAS branch nearest to where you work or practise.
- If approved, NLAS enters you in the register of accredited legal aid providers and issues a Certificate of Accreditation.
Watch out
- Accreditation is renewed a year at a time. Apply to renew at least a month before it expires.
- An accredited paralegal must never ask a person who qualifies for legal aid to pay a fee. It's an offence.
- Giving false information, or claiming to be accredited when you aren't, is an offence.
Who can apply
- Paralegals who have completed a paralegal course at an institution approved by the Council of Legal Education.
- A paralegal must also be employed or supervised by an advocate or accredited provider, and be a member of a registered paralegal association.
- Advocates of the High Court with a valid practising certificate, and law firms made up of such advocates.
- Registered public benefit, non-governmental and faith-based organisations, universities with legal aid clinics, and State agencies that employ eligible advocates or paralegals.
Official sources (4)
- Legal Aid Act No. 6 of 2016 (Rev. 2017) nlas.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Legal Aid (General) Regulations, 2022 nlas.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- NLAS Service Charter nlas.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- National Legal Aid Service nlas.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026