Due to their vulnerability women face various problems and experience discrimination,rndomestic violence, sexual assault and harassment. In Ethiopia although womenrnexperience violence they are not in a position to access justice due to poverty, socioculturalrnfactors and discrimination. Therefore, to curb this problem legal aid programsrnare essential in making indigent women enjoy their right to equality before the law. Thernmain purpose of this study is therefore to examine the role of legal aid in promoting thernrights of women, identify the major factors/challenges that hinder women from accessingrnlegal aid taking Hawassa university legal aid center and Ethiopian Women LawyersrnAssociation as case studies. Methodologically, the study is based on a qualitativernapproach. It relies on analyzing both primary and secondary data sources. The primaryrndata sources are gathered using semi- structured interview questions, with focus grouprndiscussion and personal observations. The study has employed purposive samplingrnprocedure for contacting the interviewees. The secondary data sources are gatheredrnpredominantly from literature out puts, journals and other publications. The finding ofrnthe study shows that legal aid service is inaccessible for the majority indigent women.rnLack of awareness about the availability of legal aid, economic problems , culture andrnfamily pressures, lack of legal rights awareness, language in which service is providedrnand womenâ€™s perception towards legal aid are among the barriers that deny womenrnaccess to legal aid. Regardless of the above facts legal aid has great role in promotingrnthe rights of women, women who are victims of violence are able to claim forrncompensation, secure their property and inheritance rights and further make them awarernof their legal rights. The study recommends that it is important to have Awareness raisingrncampaign about the availability and importance of legal aid service and disseminaternlegal rights education to increase women awareness about their rights and obligationsrnunder the law. Legal aid service providers shall also make legal aid centers physicallyrnaccessible to the majority in need. This study also reveals the importance of havingrnprofessionally competent service providers and the diversified use of non lawyers inrnorder to reduce the shortage of man power.