There are two important situations 1. You have been sued / charged and cannot afford a lawyer You can approach the Legal Aid Council and request legal assistance. Depending on the case and your eligibility, a lawyer can advise you and represent you in court. The government also operates the Court Duty Solicitors Scheme, particularly to provide representation to indigent persons in criminal proceedings. � Federal Ministry of Justice 2. You want to sue somebody but cannot afford a lawyer You can also seek legal aid. However, not every civil case automatically qualifies. For civil proceedings, legal-aid authorities may consider whether you have reasonable grounds for bringing or defending the case and whether providing legal aid is appropriate in the circumstances. � Plang Important distinction A Public Defender is not simply a lawyer automatically assigned to everyone who cannot pay. The exact arrangement depends on: whether the matter is criminal or civil; your financial circumstances; the type of case; whether the case falls within the legal-aid scheme; and the state/court involved. For example, Lagos State has a Bureau of the Public Defender (BPD) that provides free legal advice and representation in both criminal and civil cases for indigent and vulnerable residents. � If you mean what the government/legal-aid bodies can offer a person who cannot afford a lawyer, the main services include: ⚖️ Services they can offer Free legal advice — explain your legal rights and what steps you should take. Free legal representation — an eligible person may be assigned a lawyer to represent them in court. Defence in criminal cases — help defend someone who has been accused or charged with a crime and cannot afford counsel. Help when you have been sued — a lawyer can help you understand and defend the case. Help to sue another person — where the case qualifies, they can assist an indigent person in bringing a civil case. Preparation of legal documents — assistance with certain court applications, affidavits and other legal documents. Bail assistance — legal assistance in appropriate criminal cases involving bail. Human-rights complaints — the National Human Rights Commission can investigate certain alleged violations of fundamental rights. Mediation/settlement — some legal-aid services can help parties resolve disputes without going through a lengthy trial. Legal information and referral — if they cannot handle your particular case, they can direct you to the appropriate institution or lawyer. Important Free legal aid does not mean every case is automatically accepted. Eligibility and the type of case matter. For example, the Legal Aid Council has specific statutory functions and eligibility requirements, while the NHRC focuses primarily on human-rights issues. - @northernblueprint