Civil legal aid fees for eviction cases and immigration are to receive a £20 million boost, marking the first increase since 1996.

The investment aims to help vulnerable people who face unfair eviction or being pushed into homelessness get access to legal advice, according to Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood (main image). Subject to a consultation in January, an additional £20 million will be invested into the legal aid sector every year.

This forms part of the government’s wider plans to make the legal aid sector more sustainable and to tackle the backlog in civil courts.

“This government is determined to improve the civil legal aid sector which was left neglected for years,” says Mahmood. “This is an important step as we rebuild our justice system, ensuring it is fit for purpose for the society it serves and those who serve within it.”  

The Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the increase but says it must be followed by a commitment to much-needed investment in other areas of civil and criminal legal aid, which are vital public services.

Common good

President Richard Atkinson (pictured) says: “The government must now continue acting for the common good and invest across all areas of civil legal aid. This will ensure representation for families fighting eviction, tackling housing disrepair or a survivor of abuse seeking protection from a violent partner.”

Law Society research shows that nearly half of the population in England and Wales (25 million) don’t have access to a local legal aid provider for housing advice due to the diminished number of housing legal aid providers.

The government will consult on increasing legal aid fees for those working in the housing (housing and debt) and immigration (immigration and asylum) sectors, aiming to increase fees to a rate in the region of £65/£69 per hour (non-London/London), or provide a 10% uplift, whichever is higher.

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