| Agency Name: | Scottish Legal Aid Board |
| Jurisdiction: | Scotland |
| Headquarters: | Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HE |
| Minister1 Name: | Keith Brown MSP |
| Minister1 Pfo: | Cabinet Secretary for Justice |
| Chief1 Name: | Ray Macfarlane |
| Chief1 Position: | Chair |
| Chief2 Name: | Colin Lancaster |
| Chief2 Position: | Chief Executive |
| Agency Type: | executive non-departmental public body |
| Parent Department: | Scottish Government |
| Budget: | (Total cash expenditure 2015–16) |
| Map: | Scotland in the UK and Europe.svg |
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, responsible for managing legal aid. It was established in April 1987, under the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986,[1] taking over functions previously exercised by the Law Society.
In 2006 it had an annual budget of approximately £164 million.
Providing free legal assistance in Scotland is based on the Poor's Roll of 1424:[2]
"and gif there bee onie pure creature, for faulte of cunning, or expenses, that cannot, nor may not follow his cause, the King for the love of GOD, sall ordain the judge to purwey and get a leill and a wise Advocate, to follow sik pure creatures causes"
This was reinforced by a 1587 act of the Parliament of Scotland:
"quhatsumever lieges of this Realme accused of treason, or for quatsumever crime... full libertie to provide himselfe of Advocates and Praeloquutoures, in competent numbers to defend his life, honour and land, against quhatsumever accusation".