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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Legal Aid Agency data breach: information for members

A cyberattack on the Legal Aid Agency’s online digital services has resulted in a major data breach and triggered contingency measures for legal aid providers.

23 May 2025

Westminster update: lord chancellor announces new prison capacity measures

Your weekly update on the latest developments and debates in Parliament and across Whitehall. This week: prison capacity measures, statutory timelines for asylum appeals and a landmark treaty for the protection of lawyers.

20 May 2025

Legal Aid Agency must get a grip after cyber attack

The Law Society has called on the Legal Aid Agency to get a grip on the situation after a significant data breach.

19 May 2025

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

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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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