The Justice Committee is today launching a new inquiry into access to
justice in England and Wales.
MPs on the cross-party Committee chaired by Labour MP will examine the current
state of the legal services and representation market, and how
it, and associated operating pressures, affect access to justice.
It will also look at the impact of those acting without legal
advice and / or representation on access to justice and the ways
in which the legal services and representation sector is adapting
post LASPO 2012 to secure access to justice across civil,
criminal and family law.
The inquiry will also assess potential new funding options and
the scope for future innovations and potential adaptation of
services, funding, regulation and technology to support access to
justice.
The Justice Committee previously undertook a broad inquiry on the
Future of Legal Aid in
2022-23, looking at the challenges facing legal aid clients and
providers and how they might be tackled. It built upon work
undertaken by the Committee in 2015 on the impact of changes to
civil legal aid under Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and
Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
Chair of the Justice Committee said:
“Access to justice is fundamental to people's right
to a fair trial or hearing, yet there are long standing
challenges across this sector, including for those seeking legal
advice.
“The Committee's timely inquiry will assess the
current state of the legal services and representation market
in England and Wales and how this is affecting access to
justice.
“It will look at the provision of legal aid and the effect of
restrictions, as well as the potential funding options to
increase access to justice. MPs will explore the impact of
those acting without legal advice and / or representation and
the consequences of the cyber-attack on the Legal Aid
Agency.
“The inquiry will also examine future digital innovations and
legal regulation, and how these will help to secure access to
civil, criminal, and family law.
“Given the persistent problem of legal aid deserts leaving
the sector close to crisis, the Committee will assess
how the current system could be improved to provide a
cost-efficient and cost-controlled service, with suitably
remunerated legal practice.”
Terms of Reference
The Committee is launching a call for written evidence on access
to justice. The Committee invites evidence submissions through
the website addressing any
or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference
by Tuesday, 30 September
2025:
- How does the current state of the legal services and
representation market in England and Wales, and associated
operating pressures, affect access to justice for clients?
- What is the role of supplementary advice services in
supporting access to justice?
- What is the impact of those acting without legal advice and /
or representation on access to justice?
- Without impacting the public purse, what potential funding
options would increase access to justice? e.g. an access to
justice fund levy, conditional fee arrangements, third party
funding. If limited funds were available, what would be the
priority areas for spending?
- How are the legal services regulators responding to their
obligation to improve access to justice under the Legal Services
Act 2007?
- How is pro bono work and free legal advice being used to
support access to justice and what reliance is placed on it?
- How can advice, legal support or non-court dispute
resolution, such as mediation and restorative justice, help the
early resolution of disputes?
- What role is there for digital innovation and data collection
in supporting access to justice?
- How could the current system of legal aid be improved to
provide a cost-efficient and cost-controlled service, with
suitably remunerated legal practice across civil, criminal and
family law?
- What has been the impact of the Legal Aid Agency
cyber-attack, revealed in April 2025, on recipients and providers
of legal aid work, and how have the Legal Aid Agency and Ministry
of Justice responded?
