Legal aid in Austria: where to start If you need legal help in Austria but cannot afford the costs of going to court, there is an official system that may help. The main term to know is Verfahrenshilfe, which is usually translated as legal aid for court proceedings. It may cover court fees and, in some cases, the cost of a lawyer. To qualify, you generally need to show that paying these costs would put your basic living needs at risk, and that your case is not considered hope