The Future of Legal Aid
Justice Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry is looking at the major challenges facing legal aid clients and providers and how they might be tackled. The legal aid system in England and Wales was fundamentally changed by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LAPSO). Since then, there have been several legislative …
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32
Recommendations
11
Conclusions
1
Report
20
Letters
4
Events
Activity timeline 22 events
21 Feb
2023
2023
21 Feb
2023
2023
7 Feb
2023
2023
25 Jan
2023
2023
6 Dec
2022
2022
8 Sep
2022
2022
25 May
2022
2022
15 Mar
2022
2022
16 Nov
2021
2021
16 Nov
2021
2021
27 Jul
2021
2021
Report published
23 Jul
2021
2021
Correspondence
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Report - The Future of Legal Aid | HC 70 | 27 Jul 2021 | 43 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
7
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
3rd Report - The Future of Legal A…
There are serious problems with the current fee schemes for criminal legal aid.
There are serious problems with the current fee schemes for criminal legal aid. The fees and rates do not reflect the work required. The schemes should be reformed to ensure that they offer a fair rate for the work required …
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Government Response
The government injected up to £51m per annum into the criminal legal aid system in September 2020. Additionally, the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review is considering a mechanism for regular fee review to ensure flexibility and fairness.
Ministry of Justice
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17
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
3rd Report - The Future of Legal A…
We recommend that the Government implement the recommendations of the Taylor Review of Youth Justice:...
We recommend that the Government implement the recommendations of the Taylor Review of Youth Justice: to review the fee structure of cases heard in the youth courts in order to raise their status and improve the quality of legal representation …
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Government Response
The government states the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review is considering youth justice fee structures. For the recommendation on presumed legal representation at police stations, the government is considering trialling a system that presumes uptake of advice for young and vulnerable individuals in police custody.
Ministry of Justice
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38
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
3rd Report - The Future of Legal A…
Online legal services should not be seen as a replacement for traditional face-to-face services, especially...
Online legal services should not be seen as a replacement for traditional face-to-face services, especially when such a high proportion of those who qualify for legal aid do not always have reliable access to digital technology. That said, we agree …
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Government Response
The government has developed an online pilot for housing disrepair advice and signposting as part of its Legal Support Action Plan, accessible via GOV.UK, but does not address supporting legal aid providers to upgrade their digital infrastructure.
Ministry of Justice
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39
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
3rd Report - The Future of Legal A…
We commend the Legal Aid Agency for its work supporting legal aid providers since the...
We commend the Legal Aid Agency for its work supporting legal aid providers since the start of the pandemic. The approach taken by the Agency and its staff shows that it can be flexible and proactive if the circumstances allow. …
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Government Response
The LAA has already made some pandemic-related changes permanent and continues to keep other active contingencies under review. It also commits to maintaining an open dialogue with providers and continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes and systems.
Ministry of Justice
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Correspondence 20 letters
21 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from Mike Freer MP, Minister for Courts, Legal Services and International, dated 9 February 2023, follow up from the session on 17 January 2023
Parliament page
21 Feb 2023
From committee
Letter to Mike Freer MP, Minister for Courts, Legal Services and International, dated 24 January 2023, follow up from the session on 17 January 2023
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from Lubna Shuja, President of the Law Society, dated 30 January 2023, following the evidence session on 17 January
Parliament page
25 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair, Criminal Bar Association, dated 9 January 2023, on criminal legal aid
Parliament page
6 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from Mike Freer MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, dated 30 November 2022, on the Government's full response to the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review
Parliament page
8 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from Sarah Dines MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, dated 15 August 2022, on legal aid follow-up
Parliament page
25 May 2022
To committee
Letter from the Bar Council, dated 24 May 2022, regarding income disparities at the Bar
Parliament page
15 Mar 2022
To committee
Letter from the Lord Chancellor, dated 14 March 2022, on the legal aid means test review and independent review of criminal legal aid
Parliament page
16 Nov 2021
From committee
Letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor on the response to the Future of Legal Aid Report, 16 November 2021
Parliament page
23 Jul 2021
Family Law Roundtable Transcript 14 December 2020
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, dated 9 February 2021, regarding transfer of civil legal aid bills of costs to Legal Aid Agency
Parliament page
3 Feb 2021
To committee
Letter from Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 28 January 2021, on criminal legal aid review
Parliament page
27 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 20 January 2021, regarding full awarding of the legal support for litigants in person grant
Parliament page
13 Jan 2021
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice, dated 21 December 2020, regarding Criminal Legal Aid Review Phase II Independent Review
Parliament page
4 Nov 2020
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 29 October 2020, regarding MoJ funding for not for profit providers of legal advice
Parliament page
23 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 16 September 2020 regarding Civil Legal Aid: Renumeration
Parliament page
9 Sep 2020
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, dated 21 August 2020, regarding an accelerated package of measures amending criminal legal aid fee schemes
Parliament page
22 May 2020
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 18 May 2020, regarding legal aid fees for asylum and immigration appeals
Parliament page
28 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 20 April 2020, regarding Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2012
Parliament page
28 Apr 2020
To committee
Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 23 April 2020, relating to launch of £3.1 million legal support for litigants in person grant
Parliament page