Legal aid fees must increase to protect this vital public service
News
The Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the government’s proposed changes to increase legal aid fees. The changes will lead to the highest rate increase after nearly 30 years of underinvestment in our justice system which unfairly penalises our communities.
While the planned fee increases are a step in the right direction, it is not enough to ensure legal aid work is sustainable and help people with their housing and immigration legal issues.
We urge the government to include more areas, not just housing and immigration, and introduce a system that regularly reviews legal aid fees. Without ensuring that fees keep up with rising costs, the legal aid system will continue to shrink, limiting access to justice to a privileged few.
Our president Richard Atkinson said: “The government must prioritise the public interest and make sure that every member of the public can access justice. Legal advice can make the difference between home and homelessness.
“Raising the rates is welcome, however the government admits this would still leave a quarter of housing legal aid providers unable to help people who desperately need advice.
“Underfunding our justice system denies us a vital public service. It is vital that the government ensures all areas of civil legal aid are adequately funded to level the playing field for those of us who cannot afford legal advice.”
To put the needs of the public first the Law Society is calling for:
- greater flexibility in the delivery of legal aid. Remote advice improves access to justice for many, but in-person services must remain an option for those who need them.
- a 95% increase in legal aid fees is needed to restore fees to the 1996 levels in real terms*.
Notes to editors
- *Based on Bank of England data
- We can provide a copy of our consultation response upon request
- The Ministry of Justice closes its consultation to increase civil legal aid fees for those working in the housing and immigration sectors on 21 March 2025
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: Andrea Switzer | 020 8049 3794 and Floyd Alexander-Hunt | 0203 657 0113