Legal Aid in Tatters: Law Society Reveals Updated Heat Maps Showing ‘Expanding’ Advice Deserts

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act has been under scrutiny as the Law Society reveals the devastating impact it has had on access to legal aid services. On the 10th anniversary of the legislation coming into force, the Law Society has declared that legal aid is in tatters, with updated heat maps showing expanding advice deserts.

The Society has published maps highlighting the vanishing availability of legal aid across various crucial areas such as housing, welfare, education, community care, and immigration since the 2012 act took numerous areas out of scope. According to the data compiled from the directory of providers published by the Legal Aid Agency, the number of legal aid cases to help people get early advice has dropped significantly over the years.

The Society reported that millions of people now live in areas where there is no longer access to the help and advice they are entitled to by parliament. The updated maps released by the Society show alarming statistics, with a large percentage of the population lacking access to local legal aid providers in key areas.

Society president Lubna Shuja emphasized the importance of legal aid in ensuring that individuals can uphold and enforce their rights. Shuja welcomed the government’s civil legal aid review but expressed concerns about the timetable, stating that services are collapsing now.

In response, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure access to legal help and advice for everyone in England and Wales. The spokesperson mentioned the significant investment made to ensure civil legal aid reaches those in need and reassured that the sector is being reviewed to ensure sustainability in the future.

Despite the government’s reassurances, the Law Society’s findings paint a grim picture of the current state of legal aid in the UK. As access to crucial legal services continues to diminish, the call for urgent action to address the widening advice deserts grows louder.