Under section 26A of the Legal Aid Ordinance, a person who has been refused legal aid in respect of his/her appeal to the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) may seek a review of the Director of Legal Aid's refusal within 28 days of the decision. The application for review must be accompanied by a certificate by counsel stating that the person has a reasonable prospect of success in the appeal to the CFA and the grounds for that opinion.

To assist persons who lack means to seek a review of legal aid refusal in respect of his/her appeal to the CFA, the Legal Aid Services Council (LASC) has implemented an assistance scheme for the provision of a certificate by counsel free of charge.