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. We're fighting for properly funded legal aid and investment in a justice system that is available for all.

Richard Atkinson is a white man with short, dark grey hair. He wears a navy suit, a white shirt and a dark blue polka dot tie.

Criminal legal aid: £24m welcome first step to tackle crisis

Increased funding for legal aid solicitors working in police stations and youth courts brings hope to the criminal defence profession.

Find out more about the funding
Richard Atkinson is a white man with short, dark grey hair. He wears a navy suit, a white shirt and a dark blue polka dot tie.

What we're asking for

As the professional body for solicitors, we amplify the powerful collective voice of more than 200,000 solicitors by advocating at the highest levels of the issues you've told us matter most.

A woman wearing a yellow jumper uses a piggy bank

Legal aid means test review

Young woman sitting in kitchen, staring at calculator next to open laptop

Civil legal aid review

Lawyer in court holding papers while cross-examining witness. She is wearing a pink top and dark suit, visible from the shoulders down

Criminal legal aid review

News and articles

View All

Westminster update: lord chancellor gives update on legal aid funding

Your weekly update from the Law Society’s public affairs team on all the latest developments and debates in parliament and across Whitehall. This week: criminal legal aid, data bill and UK-Switzerland agreement.

23 Dec 2024

Criminal legal aid funding increase a step forward for vital public service

UK government plans to increase criminal legal aid rates for solicitors by a further 12% are a boost to the profession and access to justice.

20 Dec 2024

Criminal legal aid: rate increase gives hope for the future

Criminal legal aid rates will increase by an additional 12%. The long-awaited pay rise for duty solicitors is a positive step in our campaign for fairer legal aid rates for our members.

20 Dec 2024

Thousands of children face an uncertain future this festive season

Tens of thousands of children need decisions about their future to be made without delay, and people need better access to advice and representation so that they don’t have to represent themselves in court.

19 Dec 2024

View All

All resources

Expand all

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

Legal aid deserts

Our updated heatmaps show how funding cuts have left large areas of England and Wales without access to advice.

Explore the maps
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

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.

Maximise your membership

My LS gives you access to the latest news, events, books and resources to help you excel within your practice.

Access our resources here