Policy & Campaigns Archives

21 03, 2025

LAPG’s response to the civil legal aid fees consultation

Chris Minnoch2025-03-21T14:20:03+00:00March 21st, 2025|

We have published our response to the MOJ's civil legal aid fees consultation: Civil legal aid: Towards a sustainable future The MOJ consultation is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/civil-legal-aid-towards-a-sustainable-future/civil-legal-aid-towards-a-sustainable-future We welcome the proposals to increase Immigration & Asylum and Housing & Debt fees and would like to see these changes implemented as soon as possible. As [...]

29 11, 2024

LAPG responds to MOJ announcement about consultation on increasing some civil legal aid fees

Chris Minnoch2024-11-29T14:24:48+00:00November 29th, 2024|

Today’s announcement by the Lord Chancellor of a consultation on increasing fees for two critical areas of civil legal aid represents a significant step forward. It represents a continuation of the positive shift in approach by this government after decades of regressive policymaking in relation to legal aid. It is also encouraging that the [...]

30 07, 2024

Legal Aid’s 75th Anniversary: A diamond in the rough

LAPG Admin2024-07-30T13:59:26+01:00July 30th, 2024|

Something incredible happened 75 years ago today. The Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949 received royal assent, paving the way for the establishment of the legal aid scheme. The scheme was described by the AG at the time as a ‘charter of the little man to the British courts of justice […] without regard [...]

21 02, 2024

LAPG submits its response to the MOJ RoCLA Call for Evidence

Chris Minnoch2024-02-26T11:54:42+00:00February 21st, 2024|

On 21 February 2024 we submitted our response to the Ministry of Justice's Review of Civil Legal Aid Call for Evidence. Our response provides a detailed explanation of the myriad issues undermining the ability of legal aid practitioners to meet the needs of clients. In particular, we focused on the following key, overarching issues: [...]

29 06, 2023

Winding down of top legal aid firm demonstrates urgent need for civil legal aid support

Chris Minnoch2023-06-29T12:16:36+01:00June 29th, 2023|

LAPG is extremely saddened by the news that Mackintosh Law is winding down its services. The specialist mental capacity and community care law firm has been a member of LAPG since it was established and has a national reputation for cutting edge caselaw for vulnerable and disabled people. The firm has also been at [...]

26 05, 2023

LAPG Statement on the Government’s published response to the Legal Aid Means Test Review

Chris Minnoch2023-05-26T16:02:51+01:00May 26th, 2023|

Following a long engagement and consultation process, the Government has now published its response to the Legal Aid Means Test Review. This sets out the changes it intends to make to the process of determining who is financially eligible to receive civil and criminal legal aid services in England and Wales. The Government has [...]

6 01, 2023

LAPG Statement on the Government’s Announcement of a Review of Civil Legal Aid

Chris Minnoch2023-01-06T16:50:19+00:00January 6th, 2023|

The government announcement yesterday that it will carry out a formal review of the civil legal aid system, to include independent research and analysis, is a welcome admission that so much more needs to be done to ensure that access to justice is a reality for all citizens and not simply empty rhetoric. However, we [...]

4 08, 2020

Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes – LAPG response to the LAA’s consultation

Chris Minnoch2022-09-21T10:48:35+01:00August 4th, 2020|

The government is set to lift the stay on housing possession cases on 23 August 2020. Many have voiced considerable concern about the potential flood of evictions that will arise once court proceedings resume due to the economic impact of the pandemic. The MoJ and HMCTS have been working closely with legal aid providers [...]

31 03, 2022

LAPG publishes the findings of the 2021 Legal Aid Census

Chris Minnoch2022-03-31T09:30:39+01:00March 31st, 2022|

LAPG publishes the Legal Aid Census – the first piece of research of its kind to look at the social justice sector as a whole. Unique research tells the story of legal aid lawyers across England and Wales - from entry to the profession, throughout their careers, and beyond. As legal aid deserts spread throughout [...]

20 01, 2022

LAPG publishes response to MOJ consultation on the future of housing possession duty schemes

Chris Minnoch2022-01-25T11:38:33+00:00January 20th, 2022|

We have today published our response to the Ministry of Justice's consultation: Housing Legal Aid: the way forward - A consultation on the future of the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme. In our response we acknowledge the positive and constructive concepts mooted by the MOJ to improve both the long-term viability of duty schemes and [...]