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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Law Commission issues paper on criminal appeals – Law Society response

We submitted a response to a Law Commission issues paper on criminal appeals, a pre-consultation, evidence gathering exercise in advance of a full consultation.

16 May 2025

Increased funding vital to ensuring everyone can access justice

An eight-week consultation on increasing criminal legal aid fees for solicitors has been launched.

09 May 2025

Westminster update: lord chancellor pressed on legal services regulation

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: updated anti-money laundering guidance, lord chancellor pressed on legal services regulation, concerns over Renters' Rights Bill and court capacity, MPs debate search provisions in Crime and Policing Bill.

05 May 2025

Children deprived of their liberty require better access to legal aid

The Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the reduction in family court backlogs and delays.

27 Mar 2025

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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

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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