Government’s management of legal aid

MoJ should work with others to improve its understanding of the costs and benefits of legal issues removed from scope during legal aid reforms, to ensure that changes have not led to less efficient public spending. MoJ should focus on areas of stakeholder concerns including the impact of: ? the removal of early advice for issues such as housing and debt. It should work with stakeholders and other government departments to improve its research approach in this area (bullet 1).

Ref Page 11, a (bullet 1) · Implemented Q2 2025-2026

MoJ should work with providers to ensure its fees are set at a level that optimises the balance between cost effectiveness, affordability and access to legal aid (for those who are eligible). For example, with support from LAA, MoJ could liaise with providers to get a more routine understanding of the profitability of legal aid work and market sustainability, such as through open-book accounting.

Ref Page 12, f · Implemented Q3 2025-2026

MoJ should work with others to improve its understanding of the costs and benefits of legal issues removed from scope during legal aid reforms, to ensure that changes have not led to less efficient public spending. MoJ should focus on areas of stakeholder concerns including the impact of: ? increases in people representing themselves in court. It should work with HMCTS to improve data on both the number and impact of self-representation in family and magistrates? courts and any inefficiencies (bullet 2)

Ref Page 11, a (bullet 2) · Implemented Q3 2026-2027

MoJ should work with others to improve its understanding of the costs and benefits of legal issues removed from scope during legal aid reforms, to ensure that changes have not led to less efficient public spending. MoJ should focus on areas of stakeholder concerns including the impact of: ? reductions in immigration advice on local authorities. It should work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to establish the financial and other impacts on local authorities as a result of this change (bullet 3)

Ref Page 11, a (bullet 3) · Implemented Q1 2025-2026

It should respond to any additional costs identified with an action plan to bear down on any wider costs or inefficiencies.

Ref Page 12, a · Implemented Q3 2027-2027

MoJ should, working with LAA and others, ensure that those who want (and are eligible for) legal aid can access it in future by improving: ? its view of demand and capacity in the legal aid market, for example, by running routine surveys on legal need, working with providers to capture better data on any individuals they cannot help due to lack of capacity, and addressing any barriers found (bullet 1)

Ref Page 12, b (bullet 1) · Implemented Q3 2026-2027

MoJ should, working with LAA and others, ensure that those who want (and are eligible for) legal aid can access it in future by improving: ? how it monitors whether those who apply for its exceptional case funding scheme individually are able to find a provider and acting to address any issues found. (bullet 2)

Ref Page 12, b (bullet 2) · Implemented Q1 2026-2027

MoJ should assess whether it could reduce the cost of its exceptional case funding scheme by streamlining its approach to processing categories with high approval rates, and act upon its findings.

Ref Page 12, c · Implemented 02/2025

MoJ should work with providers and representative bodies to establish a workforce strategy that considers the pipeline of future legal aid lawyers and their training to ensure future supply is sufficient to meet its objectives for access to justice, thereby enabling people who seek (and are eligible for) legal aid to access it in future.

Ref Page 12, d · Implemented Q3 2025-2026

LAA should continue to develop its contracting approach to improve the attractiveness of legal aid markets to providers for civil legal aid as well as criminal legal aid. As part of this it should look to reduce barriers to providers entering the legal aid market and to minimise the costs of contracting.

Ref Page 12, e · Implemented 10/2025