The Justice Committee has launched an inquiry into how advice and legal services are adapting to secure access to justice across civil, criminal, and family law.
MPs on the cross-party Committee, which is chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter, will examine the current state of the legal services and representation market, and access to justice. The inquiry builds on the 2022-23 work entitled Future of Legal Aid, which looked at the challenges facing legal aid clients and providers; in 2015 the Justice Committee looked at the impact of changes to civil legal aid under Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).
This latest inquiry will consider how the sector is adapting further 10 years further down the line from LASPO, potential new funding options, and innovation in adapting services, funding, regulation and technology to support access to justice. It will also consider the impact of the recent cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency from which it is still recovering.
Chair of the Justice Committee Andy Slaughter 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… 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.”
The Committee is calling for written evidence on access to justice with submissions open until Tuesday, 30th September 2025. Specifically the terms of reference for the inquiry are
- 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?
Welcoming the inquiry Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson said access to justice needed ‘urgent government support’ adding it should be for everybody, not just those who can afford it.
“Our 21st Century Justice report sets out key steps the government and legal sector could take to improve access to legal support such as creating a free AI-powered tool that helps people understand their legal issue and signposts them to the help they need.
“Legal aid also plays an essential role in allowing people to access justice, but like all vital public services it needs to be funded. Proper investment in legal aid will ensure there are enough lawyers to represent people when they face losing their home, their income, or their children.
“The Justice Committee report earlier this week about the County Courts is the latest of a number of documents to shine a light on the need for investment across the entire creaking justice system. If the government properly funded our courts and those who work in them, thousands of people would be able to access timely and fair justice.”
Details of the inquiry, including more information about the call for evidence, can be found here.
