Justice Select Committee 2025
MPs on the cross-party Committee chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter 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 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. 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?
The New inquiry web site