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.

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Criminal legal aid: what's changing

In 2024, we secured a long-awaited fee increase for solicitors. This was the first boost to criminal legal aid funding in 25 years.

With further still to go, discover how we’re driving efforts to properly fund this vital public service.

Find out more
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.

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Legal aid means test review

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Civil legal aid review

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LASPO Act

News and articles

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Westminster update: criminal legal aid funding cannot be a one-off

Your weekly update on the latest developments and debates in parliament and across Whitehall. This week: increased criminal legal aid funding, engaging the Law Society in family courts, Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill.

07 Jul 2025

Additional funding for vital public service must not be a one-off

The Law Society has warned that additional criminal legal aid funding must not be a one-off if there is to be a viable future for this vital public service.

03 Jul 2025

Westminster update: legal services at heart of Industrial Strategy

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: Industrial Strategy centres legal services, Trade Strategy, parliament at 21st Century Justice, “vital” legal aid debated, concerns raised in Mental Health Bill.

01 Jul 2025

Ten steps to get the justice system back online after cyber-attack

Key steps must be taken to get the justice system back online following a cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency.

27 Jun 2025

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All resources

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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

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