Ministry of Justice Launches Major Review of Civil Legal Aid Sector, Implementation Delayed Until 2024 at Earliest

The Ministry of Justice has announced a major review of the civil legal aid sector, with potential measures to save the shrinking sector not expected to be implemented until late 2024 at the earliest. The review will include an external economic analysis of the civil legal aid market to better understand how people access funding and support.

The review will cover all categories of civil legal aid provision, including family, housing, mental health, education, discrimination, and immigration. It will also consider the value for taxpayers’ money of future policy options and take into account wider budgetary restraints on the department.

The final report is set to be published in 2024, with the government considering options for a more effective, efficient, and sustainable system for legal providers and those who rely on legal aid. However, the Law Society and Bar Council have expressed concerns about the timetable, citing the decreasing number of providers with civil contracts over the years.

Society president Lubna Shuja highlighted the impact of the shrinking sector on individuals in need of legal aid, emphasizing the urgent need for government investment to ensure access to justice. New Bar Council chair Nick Vineall KC echoed these concerns, calling for interim measures to prevent the collapse of the system before the review is completed in 2024.

Justice minister Lord Bellamy emphasized the importance of the review in providing evidence on the civil legal aid systems and the challenges facing the market. Despite previous comprehensive legal aid reviews, the government is moving forward with this new review to address the ongoing issues in the sector.

As the review progresses, stakeholders will be closely watching for any developments that could help support and strengthen the civil legal aid sector in the UK.