Legal aid
Years of underinvestment have brought the justice system to its knees. Victims, defendants and witnesses are suffering the consequences while hardworking solicitors are forced out of the sector. Our fight for properly funded legal aid and access to justice is part of our advocacy work on the issues you’ve told us matter most.
![The image shows the top of the main entrance to the Royal Court of Justice in London.](https://prdsitecore93.azureedge.net/-/media/images/topics-and-resources/private-client/royal-court-of-justice.jpg?rev=f5cb549fc1f345f788d942870be6d106&extension=webp&h=1414&w=2121&la=en&hash=C4A2C87EE0A225C0C5363819A4E6FAF8)
![The image shows the top of the main entrance to the Royal Court of Justice in London.](https://prdsitecore93.azureedge.net/-/media/images/topics-and-resources/private-client/royal-court-of-justice.jpg?rev=f5cb549fc1f345f788d942870be6d106&extension=webp&h=1414&w=2121&la=en&hash=C4A2C87EE0A225C0C5363819A4E6FAF8)
Law Society wins High Court battle on criminal legal aid
We're calling for government to rethink criminal legal aid funding before the system collapses, after our judicial review victory.
All resources
- Advocacy in the youth court09 Feb 2024
- Civil legal aid applications – tips for providers27 Jun 2023
- Criminal legal aid report – key recommendations27 Jan 2022
- Exceptional case funding – guidance for solicitors10 Oct 2019
- Legal aid for pro bono clinics04 Jul 2024
- Litigants in person: guidelines for lawyers04 Jun 2015
- Living with COVID-19: safety in court and tribunal buildings19 Aug 2024
- Our family legal aid policy position27 Jun 2023
- Tendering for legal aid contracts15 Aug 2024
- Civil legal aid: a review of its sustainability and the challenges to its viability27 Sep 2021
- Civil legal aid: sustainability research21 May 2024
- Cost of a day in court27 Jul 2018
- Disqualified from justice: legal aid means test01 Apr 2018
- Fresh ideas for 21st century justice01 May 2024
- Improving the legal aid means test as living costs rise22 Jul 2024
- Justice on trial 2019: Fixing our criminal justice system report14 Jun 2019
- LASPO four years on: Law Society review29 Jun 2017
- Law under lockdown: the impact of COVID-19 measures on access to justice and vulnerable people25 Sep 2020
- More affordable justice: legal aid means test report30 May 2022
- Paying for legal help when ineligible for criminal legal aid – report 28 Sep 2018
- Research on the benefits of early professional legal advice19 Jun 2018
- Technology, access to justice and the rule of law report16 Sep 2019
- The impact of legal aid capital and contribution thresholds for victims of domestic violence28 Sep 2018
- Changes to the evidence requirements for legal aid funding in private law family cases (domestic violence gateway)01 Jul 2022
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 201315 Sep 2023
- Defence costs orders18 Mar 2021
- Rejecting un-remunerative publicly funded criminal work27 Nov 2023
- Representation before mental health tribunals23 Feb 2024
- Applying for civil legal aid – flowchart05 May 2023
- Community care – legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
- Education – legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
- Housing – legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
- Immigration and asylum – legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
- Legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
- Nightingale courts status interactive map27 Jun 2023
- Welfare benefits – legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
- Changes to court working hours20 Aug 2024
- Civil legal aid review26 Feb 2024
- Criminal legal aid review26 Apr 2024
- Domestic Abuse Act 202127 Jun 2023
- Early legal advice05 Feb 2024
- LASPO Act 07 Feb 2024
- Legal aid means test review12 Sep 2023
- Operation Early Dawn: what it means for solicitors19 Aug 2024
- Professional court users' access scheme20 Aug 2024
![Map showing areas of England and Wales with 6 of fewer housing legal aid providers (March 2023) - most of the map is red or orange to show a shortage or desert](https://prdsitecore93.azureedge.net/-/media/images/campaigns/legal-aid-deserts/housing-legal-aid-providers-march-2023.jpg?rev=ebac483a4d3f47a4a3976a818d1c9a2d&extension=webp&h=628&w=1120&la=en&hash=9824E57346F63EDF66EC9AE945C001A8)
Legal aid deserts
Our updated heatmaps show how funding cuts have left large areas of England and Wales without access to advice.
![Map showing areas of England and Wales with 6 of fewer housing legal aid providers (March 2023) - most of the map is red or orange to show a shortage or desert](https://prdsitecore93.azureedge.net/-/media/images/campaigns/legal-aid-deserts/housing-legal-aid-providers-march-2023.jpg?rev=ebac483a4d3f47a4a3976a818d1c9a2d&extension=webp&h=628&w=1120&la=en&hash=9824E57346F63EDF66EC9AE945C001A8)
The Law Society is the independent professional body for solicitors. Our vision is to promote, protect and support solicitors, the rule of law and justice in England and Wales.
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