Further justice cuts untenable, warns Law Society

Ahead of the autumn budget, the Law Society of England and Wales has warned that further Ministry of Justice (MoJ) cuts are untenable.

“We were pleased to see the chancellor has said there will be no return to austerity but are concerned by reports of cuts,” said Law Society president Richard Atkinson.

“More cuts to the justice budget are untenable and will make the prime minister’s mission on crime impossible to achieve.

“The chancellor must give the Ministry funding to address the courts backlog, address the crisis in civil and criminal legal aid and to implement stalled reforms to the legal aid means test.

“Unless investment is forthcoming, criminals will feel emboldened and victims will lose faith in our justice system.”

The Law Society is calling for the following steps in the autumn budget:

• MoJ to receive funding to address the courts backlog, address the crisis in civil and criminal legal aid and to implement stalled reforms to the legal aid means test
• Skills England to be tasked with mapping where skills gaps exist in legal services so firms can bridge the gap they face in acquiring talent
• maintain the current incentives for firms to take on legal apprentices, so smaller firms can offer roles to those beginning their legal careers
• expand the Cyber Essentials Programme so more legal SME firms can access the support it provides

“The UK government has put forward ambitious plans to get our economy growing, break down barriers to opportunity and keep our streets safe,” added Richard Atkinson.

“Legal services are integral to achieving these missions and our sector stands ready to play its part.

"By implementing the changes and policies we outline, legal services, from the high street legal practice to the global law firm, can rapidly be unleashed to help drive innovation and economic growth across all our communities.

“There is a national dividend to be grasped here. Just a 1% improvement in productivity in the legal services sector could increase annual investment in the UK economy by £152m by 2050.”*

Notes to editors

See our autumn budget submission

*See KPMG’s report for the Law Society: contribution of the UK legal services sector to the UK economy

About the Law Society

The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.

Press office contact: Nick Mayo | 020 8049 4100