Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 28
28
We recognise that the Government is making progress in improving legal support and information for...
Conclusion
We recognise that the Government is making progress in improving legal support and information for litigants in person, but we caution the Government that such measures should not be seen as an alternative to tailored legal advice. We are aware that in areas such as benefits, non-legally qualified specialist advisors can provide appropriate assistance However, as long as our system is characterised by complex legal frameworks and an adversarial justice system, the availability of individualised legal advice and support will remain necessary. (Paragraph 108) 70 The Future of Legal Aid
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
In February 2019, as part of our Legal Support Action Plan, we announced we would increase our total funding for services supporting litigants in person to £3 million a year from 2020 to 2022. This new funding is being delivered through the creation of the Legal Support for Litigants in Person (LSLIP) Grant of £1.55 million per year. The grant is now fully underway, funding 11 projects across more than 50 organisations at local, regional and national levels to help people to identify issues as early as possible, prevent them from escalating, and to support people where they do need to attend court to understand legal processes and their rights within. Since 2014–15, we have also provided over £9 million in funding through the Litigants in Person Support Strategy (LIPSS), which works with four national partners to provide support to those representing themselves in court. Additionally, £2 million has been invested by the MoJ in the Community Justice Fund (CJF), which supports not-for-profit organisations in England and Wales providing legal advice to those facing legal issues such as loss of jobs, being caught in rent arrears, or built-up debt as a result of Covid-19. This investment follows the £5.4 million government grant for not-for-profit advice providers the MoJ delivered last year.