NALSA provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society.
It has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Hence, it is a statutory body.
Its aim is to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reasons of economic or other disabilities.
NALSA also identifies specific categories of marginalised and excluded groups and formulates various schemes for implementation of legal service programmes.
It provides services of free legal aid in civil and criminal matters for the poor and marginalised people who cannot afford the services of a lawyer in any court or tribunal.
It also organises Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
It works in close coordination with various State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities and other agencies
In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. The State Legal Services Authority is headed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the respective High Court who is the Patron-in-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority.
In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services Programmes in the District. The District Legal Services Authority is situated in the District Courts Complex in every District and chaired by the District Judge of the respective district.