Public Law Project is recruiting a Justice First Fellow (Wales)
Public Law Project is looking for a Justice First Fellow based in Wales. The Justice First Fellowship (JFF) is a two-year, fully funded legal training programme for aspiring social justice lawyers. Run by LEF, JFF has supported 170 fellows since 2014, with most continuing to work in social justice law. As a fellow at PLP,… continue reading
LAPG announces winners of the 2026 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
A lawyer acting for Palestinian rights protesters; a family solicitor doing groundbreaking work with Gypsies and Travellers; and a defence lawyer challenging music video evidence in criminal trials, were among those honoured at this year’s LALY awards. Now into their 24th year, the awards are organised by Legal Aid Practitioners Group on a not-for-profit basis… continue reading
LAPG announces the 29 individuals and organisations shortlisted for this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards.
A solicitor fighting for compensation for Windrush victims; a Bristol-based barrister with unique expertise in Welsh law; and two law centres both celebrating 50 years of delivering justice to their local communities are among the finalists in the 2026 LALY awards.The LALY awards, now into their 24th year, are organised by Legal Aid Practitioners Group… continue reading
Nominations for the 2026 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open!
Winners in 10 award categories will be announced 3 July; deadline for entries 21 April. Legal Aid Practitioners Group is proud to announce the launch of the 24th annual Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards, the only event dedicated solely to celebrating the social justice legal community. As well as awards covering all areas… continue reading
LAPG announces winners of the 2025 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
The Belfast law firm acting for Kneecap; an immigration KC described as a ‘once in a generation barrister’; and a legal exec making her mark representing category-A prisoners were honoured at last week’s LALY awards. Belfast-based Phoenix Law were named as winners of the 2025 LALY award for Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-profit Agency at a sold-out… continue reading
LAPG announces finalists in 2025 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards!
A chartered legal exec praised for her work representing Category A prisoners; a personal assistant to a busy human rights department ‘who always shows patience in the face of short-tempered-ness’; and the solicitor who secured a ‘blistering’ inquest ruling following the death of a two-year old, which was the first fatality linked to the Home… continue reading
Nominations for 2025 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are open!
Nominations close on 22 April 2025 Winners in 10 award categories (see below) will be announced at central London ceremony on 4 July. Legal Aid Practitioners Group is proud to launch the 23rd LALY awards in celebration of the life-changing work of social justice lawyers. LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch says: ‘For more than two decades… continue reading
LAPG announces winners of the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
Solicitor behind legal challenges that halted flights to Rwanda named as winner of Outstanding Achievement award. Former MP Karen Buck honoured for commitment to legal aid and housing justice with a Special Award from LAPG Board. Toufique Hossain, Director of Public Law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, has been named as winner of the top accolade… continue reading
LAPG announces shortlist for the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
A billing team who saved the day after their Bolton-based firm’s IT supplier was subject to a cyberattack; a solicitor described as ‘an extraordinary force for good’ for her work with Albanian children seeking asylum in the UK; and the managing director of a legal aid firm in rural West Wales have all been selected… continue reading
Nominations open for the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards!
Nominations for 2024 awards close: 22 April; winners announced: 5 July. LAPG is proud to launch the 2024 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards, the only annual event solely dedicated to celebrating the work of grassroots social justice lawyers. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of these non-profit-making awards, which continue to… continue reading
LAPG announces shortlist for 2023 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
This year’s LALY finalists include: the young barrister who founded Black Protest Legal Support; young law centre solicitor who won additional financial support to protect asylum seekers from destitution; lawyers who have brought multiple successful challenges over the British government’s refusal to relocate Afghan nationals at risk from the Taliban. Legal Aid Practitioners Group is… continue reading
LAPG opens nominations for the 2023 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards!
Nominations close: 24 April 2023; winners announced: 12 July. Legal Aid Practitioners Group is proud to launch the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards, the only annual event solely dedicated to celebrating the work of grassroots social justice lawyers. This year marks the 21st anniversary of these non-profit-making awards; and we are… continue reading
The frustrations of being a Legal aid lawyer – Volume 1 by Patricia Beckett (Wilsons Solicitors)
Not a day passes when I don’t feel intense frustration about the government’s unconcealed disdain for legal aid lawyers. Legal aid lawyers are an amazing, but fast dwindling, group of human beings. No-one really just ends up being a legal aid lawyer, it’s a conscious decision the practitioner makes either when looking for a training… continue reading
LAPG announces shortlist for 2022 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
The lawyer acting for an autistic teenager denied a potentially life-saving kidney transplant; one of the defence solicitors in the Colston Four case; and the first UK university advice clinic to secure a legal aid contract, are among the 29 individuals and six organisations selected as LALY22 finalists. New for LALY22: Legal Aid Support Staffer… continue reading
Nominations now open for the 2022 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards
LAPG opens nominations for its 20th ‘legal aid Oscars’! Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards mark 20th anniversary, with return to an in-person ceremony, after 2 years’ of virtual events. Nominations close: 25 April 2022; new award category for LALY22: legal aid support staffer. Legal Aid Practitioners Group is proud to launch the 2022… continue reading
LAPG announces the winners of the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
LAPG hosts the second ‘lockdown LALY awards’ to celebrate the vital work of social justice lawyers during the pandemic. Winners at last night’s awards include solicitor and barrister duo behind successful challenges to Home Office ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ policy. Adam Hundt, from Deighton Pierce Glynn, and Alex Goodman, from Landmark Chambers, were named… continue reading
LAPG announces Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2021 finalists
A housing barrister who is playing a leading role in challenging ‘No DSS’ landlords; and a solicitor who defended the parents of ‘Jihadi Jack’ Letts, have been honoured by this year’s LALY awards judges. The pair are among 26 individuals and nine organisations chosen as finalists in the Legal Aid Practitioners Group 2021 Legal Aid… continue reading
LAPG’s 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open.
Nominations close on 19 April; new award category for this year: Disability Rights. Winners of the 12 awards will be announced on 6 July at a virtual ceremony to be broadcast online. The 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards have been launched by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, with awards in 12… continue reading
LAPG hosts first-ever ‘virtual’ Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards to honour social justice champions
LAPG’s ground-breaking ‘lockdown LALYs’ were broadcast on social media, with the award winners joining the live event, via video link. The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are into their 18th year, but Covid-19 restrictions meant the 2020 event had to re-thought from scratch. LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch says: ‘We decided soon after lockdown… continue reading
It’s LALY time! Nominations now open for the 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
Nominations for the 17th Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open. Nomination period ends 30 April; winners to be announced at awards at ceremony on 10 July in central London. Download the full press release here Download the Flyer here The 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year… continue reading
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2017 – nominations now open!
Nominations for the 15th Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open. Following success last year, sponsorship for popular Legal Aid Newcomer award to be raised through crowdfunding again. Nomination period ends 28 April; Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE to present awards at ceremony on 5 July… continue reading
LAPG welcomes Justice Committee report into legal aid
Legal Aid Practitioners Group has today (17 July 2026) welcomed the House of Commons Justice Committee’s Third Report of Session 2026-27, ‘Access to Justice: Legal Aid’. The Committee’s conclusions and recommendations in relation to legal aid provision across England and Wales are closely aligned to what we and our legal aid practitioner members have been… continue reading
Introduction to Immigration & Asylum Legal Aid
We have developed the third module in our Legal Aid Training series which provides a general introduction to Immigration & Asylum Legal Aid aimed at trainees, paralegals, junior lawyers and those that wish to refresh their knowledge in these areas.
Our History
A Brief History of LAPG Carol Storer OBE, LAPG Director from 2008–2018, has been thumbing through the LAPG archives and will be helping us to publish a detailed online history of LAPG later this year. In the meantime, Carol has sampled some pithy comments from the early years: – Legal aid practitioners will look back… continue reading
Parliamentary Engagement
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Access to Justice
Campaigns
Keeping you informed with latest news on Legal Aid.
Response to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announcement on Increases to Housing and Immigration Civil Legal Aid Fees
Housing Law Practitioners’ Association (HLPA), Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG), Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) and Law Centres Network (LCN) respond to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announcement on Increases to Housing and Immigration Civil Legal Aid Fees 2 July 2025 HLPA, LAPG, ILPA and LCN welcome today’s confirmation from the MOJ that fees for housing… continue reading
Terms and conditions
Welcome to the LAPG website. By accessing, browsing or using this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following Terms of Use (the “Terms”) and all terms and conditions incorporated by reference. Please review these Terms carefully before using the LAPG Website. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS,… continue reading
LAPG Conference 2024
The LAPG Annual Conference took place on Friday, 8th of November 2024 at Herbert Smith Freehills.
LAPG responds to MOJ announcement about consultation on increasing some civil legal aid fees
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 government… continue reading
Legal Aid’s 75th Anniversary: A diamond in the rough
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 to… continue reading
Legal aid community celebrates its heroes at central London ceremony last night
Family of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who took her own life after viewing online material ‘romanticising self-harm’, their lawyers and those providing IT and media support, received LALY judges’ top accolade. Deighton Pierce Glynn named Legal Aid Firm of the Year for its ‘life-saving work’ for former MoD interpreters in Afghanistan at risk from Taliban reprisals…. continue reading
LAPG Statement on the Government’s published response to the Legal Aid Means Test Review
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 put… continue reading
LAPG Statement on the Government’s Announcement of a Review of Civil Legal Aid
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… continue reading
LAPG Announces Winners of the 2022 LALY Awards
Legal Aid Practitioners Group announces winners of 2022 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards at first in-person ceremony since 2019. ‘Revered’ housing barrister; solicitor acting in Colston 4 case; and lawyer specialising in ‘Kafkaesque’ Special Immigration Appeals Commission work honoured by LALY judges. Campaign group Young Legal Aid Lawyers and Marcia Willis Stewart QC… continue reading
LAPG publishes the findings of the 2021 Legal Aid Census
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… continue reading
Westminster Commission on Legal Aid report launch: recommendations to improve the sustainability of legal aid
The Westminster Commission on Legal Aid, created by a cross-party panel of parliamentarians under the auspices of the APPG on Legal Aid, has published its report and recommendations after a year-long Inquiry into the state of the legal aid sector. The Commission has set out a series of practical and necessary reforms that the government… continue reading
LAPG launches 2021 Legal Aid Census ‘to show true state of social justice sector’
Lawyers across England and Wales are urged to ‘stand up and be counted’, by taking part in a unique drive to gather data from the legal aid front line. LAPG survey has been devised in conjunction with leading legal academics from Newcastle University Law School, Cardiff University and University College London who will be analysing… continue reading
LAPG Annual Legal Aid Conference – 22-26 February 2021
Join us for LAPG’s first foray into a fully digital conference. With a superb mix of workshops delivering practitioner-focused content. We have a packed calendar of events to help you develop new skills and refine your existing ones, sessions to enable you to feed into policy development and social events. With launch and closing events,… continue reading
APPG on Legal Aid engages MPs and their caseworkers on how to help their constituents
The APPG on Legal Aid collaborated with organisations from across the advice sector to engage with MPs and their caseworkers at an event in Portcullis House on 1 November 2018. The event was organised to introduce MPs and their caseworkers to organisations that provide training, resources and referral sources to help MPs and caseworkers provide… continue reading
LAPG launches manifesto for legal aid.
Legal Aid Practitioners Group sets out detailed plan for undoing damage caused by LASPO cuts. The Legal Aid Practitioners Group has drawn on the expertise and experience of its members to produce a ‘pragmatic and clear’ manifesto for restoring access to justice, lost following the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. Writing… continue reading
Bach Commission “The Right to Justice” Report out today
Over the last two years, LAPG co-chair Nicola Mackintosh QC (Hon), committee members Julie Bishop and Laura Janes and director Carol Storer have been sitting on the Bach Commission. We heard from more than 100 individuals and organisations. The commission has found that cuts to legal aid have created a two-tier justice system where the… continue reading
New Legal Aid Manifesto prioritises vulnerable groups in society – children, disabled people and victims of domestic violence
The Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) has today launched the Manifesto for Legal Aid, which calls for immediate changes to be made to the legal aid system to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups. The Manifesto highlights those areas where changes to legal aid – particularly those brought in under the Legal Aid, Sentencing… continue reading
SOLICITOR WHO FOUGHT CARE HOME CLOSURES IS MADE HONORARY QC
LAPG co-chair Nicola Mackintosh recognised for trailblazing work on behalf of vulnerable clients Nicola Mackintosh, a leading community care lawyer and sole practitioner in south London has been appointed Honorary Queen’s Counsel, a rare honour which recognises lawyers making a major contribution to the development of the law. Nicola has been a legal aid lawyer… continue reading