The devastating impact of civil legal aid cuts has been laid bare in a new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), which reveals that the poorest households are bearing the brunt of a 24% real-terms reduction in funding since 2010-11. The analysis shows a staggering 78% drop in cases granted legal aid between 2009-10 and 2021-22, leaving thousands without access to critical support for issues like housing, employment disputes, or family matters.
The IFS highlights that stricter eligibility criteria, particularly for those with modest assets or fluctuating incomes, have left many people unable to qualify for assistance. This has resulted in a significant narrowing of the civil legal aid landscape, with some areas – such as family law – receiving certain protections, but overall access shrinking dramatically.
The 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) is identified as a key driver of these changes, having removed large swathes of civil law from the scope of legal aid. While some reforms have been made since, the IFS suggests they have not reversed the trend of reduced access.
For households struggling financially, the consequences are severe: individuals facing eviction, unfair dismissal, or complex benefit appeals may be at a significant disadvantage without legal aid. The report implies a growing gap in access to justice, where outcomes increasingly depend on an individual's ability to pay for representation rather than the merits of their case.
The economic implications could also be far-reaching: individuals unable to resolve issues through proper channels may require more support from local authorities, charities, or the NHS, placing additional strain on other public services. While the report does not explicitly detail direct economic impact on businesses, a less stable social environment due to unmet legal needs could indirectly affect local economies.
The IFS concludes by calling for a re-evaluation of the civil legal aid system, emphasising the need to protect access to justice for the most vulnerable in society. The report presents a stark picture of how policy changes have altered the landscape of legal support, with profound consequences for those at the sharp end of the income distribution.