MOJ Publishes the LASPO Post-Implementation Review – Does It Go Far Enough?
Press Release Ministry of Justice’s Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) The report is an overdue recognition of the crisis in access to justice, triggered by LASPO. Many of the recommendations for the future are positive, but much more is needed to remedy the… continue reading
LAPG Membership
Join now to help us fight for legal aid in the face of the Legal Support Action Plan.
About
LAPG is a membership body representing legal aid practitioners in England and Wales and the clients they serve.
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
LAPG submits its response to the MOJ RoCLA Call for Evidence
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: There… continue reading
The Fragility of Civil Legal Aid by Matthew Howgate
“At the heart of any review of the civil legal aid scheme should be the simple principle that legal aid should always pay enough to cover costs and, if possible, allow just a little profit to invest in its future.” By Matthew Howgate FCMI, Organisation Development Consultant and Head of the LAPG Management & Leadership… continue reading
The Fragility of Civil Legal Aid by Matthew Howgate
“At the heart of any review of the civil legal aid scheme should be the simple principle that legal aid should always pay enough to cover costs and, if possible, allow just a little profit to invest in its future.” By Matthew Howgate FCMI, Organisation Development Consultant and Head of the LAPG Management & Leadership… 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 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
Latest legal aid statistics show worrying downward trend in access
The government released the official legal aid statistic on 13 December 2018, brining the data set up to date to 30 September 2018. Worryingly, crime expenditure and workload have both decreased. Fewer civil legal help matters have been started, continuing the trend since the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). Mediation… continue reading
(Another) busy day for LAPG
LAPG Director Carol Storer explains what LAPG staff and Committee members (who support us in their ‘spare time’) do on a typical day to fight for a more accessible and sustainable legal aid system. Direct engagement with the MOJ over the LASPO review and LAA over operational issues, appearing before parliamentary committees, organising the LALY awards, delivering training, supporting… continue reading
It’s a great time to join or renew LAPG membership
With our new membership year commencing on the 1st of January 2018 now is the perfect time to renew your membership or join for the first time. Our members benefit from our advice, support, training, events and regular updates. But we also play a leading role in campaigning for a fairer and more accessible legal aid system. We… 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
LAPG writes to the new Lord Chancellor
LAPG Co-Chairs, Jenny Beck and Nicola Mackintosh, QC (Hon) and LAPG Director, Carol Storer OBE, have written to the Right Hon David Lidington following his appointment as Lord Chancellor. 13 June 2017 Dear The Right Hon David Lidington MP, We congratulate you on being appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. We would welcome 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