Brief History of the Bureau

On 4th April 1956, the Legal Aid and Advice Bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly. The aim of the Bill was “to make legal aid and advice in the Colony more readily available to persons of limited means”.

The Bureau was set up as a department under the Ministry of Labour and Welfare. It was housed in the former Ministry of Labour Building on Havelock Road.

In 1964, the Bureau was placed under the Ministry of Social Affairs. In 1984, the Bureau then became a department of the Ministry of Law, where it remains to this day.

The Bureau has had many premises in the course of its history. In 1965, it was moved from its initial premises at Havelock Road to Empress Place and then in 1974 to Pearl’s Hill. In 1987 it moved to Colombo Court. In 1999, it moved to the URA Centre at Maxwell Road, where it is currently situated.