Thursday July 30th is the 60th anniversary of legal aid.

It was at 11.47am on July 30th, 1949, the Legal Aid and Advice Act created the legal aid scheme. The fourth pillar of the welfare state was put in place.

Legal aid was a turning point. Until that date, access to justice for people of limited means depended on the charity and social conscience of lawyers. From that day on, legal aid became a right and expectation for the most disadvantaged people in our society.

Minister for Legal Aid Lord Willy Bach said, "Legal aid is a vital service that helps people in times of real need, which is why we remain committed to ensuring it is available to all those who need it most. On its 60th anniversary, legal aid continues to help more than 2 million people each year. 

"The Government is committed to ensuring that for the long-term, legal aid expenditure is sustainable, and that those vulnerable people most in need get the right help at a cost that is fair to practitioners and fair to the taxpayer."

Sir Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Legal Services Commission, added, “Access to justice is a fundamental human right and legal aid is an essential pillar of a modern welfare state.
 
“At any given time any one of us could find ourselves in need of legal advice – we could lose our jobs, get into debt, or have a relationship breakdown.  Legal aid is there to help those most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.” 

Who does legal aid help?

As we mark its 60th anniversary, legal aid has become a cornerstone of a free and just society, enabling over two million people a year in England and Wales to get help with their legal problems.

From its origins dealing with divorce cases, the legal aid scheme has grown to fund cases in a multitude of areas of law, giving people hope to make their lives better. Be it the recent success of the Gurkhas in their fight for UK settlement rights, or Colin Ross’ High Court victory in his battle for life-prolonging cancer treatment, it’s legal aid that funds the test cases that help improve the justice system, sometimes changing the law itself.

The scheme is run by the Legal Services Commission (LSC), with a £2 billion a year budget provided by the Ministry of Justice. It’s the best-funded state legal system in the world: the Government spends £38 per head of population on legal aid.

The legal aid budget allows for the provision of legal advice, help and representation for those who need it through solicitors, barristers and advice agency advisers. Whether it’s advice at a police station on arrest, settling a childcare dispute, help with debt or how to keep a home, legal aid is a constant source of support.

At 60, legal aid shows no signs of retiring. As the country continues to deal with the economic recession, the scheme is more relevant than ever.

Breaking ground – the next 60 years

For the past 60 years, legal aid has continually broken new ground. Over the next 60 years, the LSC will continue to adapt to meet people’s changing needs. Recent changes we have introduced include:

• The Community Legal Advice helpline (0845 345 4 345) and website
(www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk), which act as frontline support systems as the recession sees ever-increasing demand for advice on debt, housing, benefits and family matters.
• The virtual courts pilot, where defendants attend court via video link at the police station.
• New electronic systems that allow legal aid providers and clients to track the progress of their case in real time.
• The introduction of Community Legal Advice centres to provide integrated, one-stop shops where people can get advice on legal problems such as debt, family disputes, domestic violence and welfare benefits.

Carolyn Regan, the LSC’s Chief Executive, added, “Over the past 60 years, legal aid has provided access to justice for millions of people, who would otherwise not be able to get the help they need.

“Looking ahead, we are taking steps to build a long-term sustainable future for legal aid so that we can ensure quality access to services at the best value for money for taxpayers. Legal aid will continue to be a fundamental part of welfare provision for at least the next 60 years.”

Notes for editors

A legal aid timeline of milestones and key cases can be found here: http://www.legalaid60.org.uk/sixty/decades.jsp

This year, over two million people with legal problems in England & Wales will get help through Legal Aid. This includes:

• Over quarter of a million people involved in family disputes,
• Around 125,000 people with housing problems,
• Over 90,000 people struggling with debt,
• Around 18,000 people suffering domestic abuse, and,
• Over 90,000 people seeking the welfare benefits which they are entitled to. 

An exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of legal aid is currently touring the country. On July 29th, 30th and 31st it will be at the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand, central London.

Contact

For photographs of legal aid in action, please go to:
www.legalaid60.org.uk/library/media_image_library.jsp

To arrange an interview and/or to receive the 60th anniversary media information pack, including case studies and how to access images of Legal Aid through the 20th and 21st century, please email the Legal Services Commission press team:

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or
• telephone us on 0207 783 7218. 

www.legalaid60.org.uk