Justice system: Chancellor should ‘spend to save’

The Law Society of England and Wales welcomed greater investment in justice but warned that funding must be increased across the system to avoid collapse.

While today’s Budget announces funding for prisons, the Crown Prosecution Service and probation, there is no mention of civil and criminal legal aid, which are vital public services on their knees.

Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, said: “It is clear that the Lord Chancellor has provided strong support for the Treasury and investment assurance for the Ministry of Justice.”

“What remains unclear is whether the vital funding needed for civil and criminal legal aid and to address the growing court workload will be made available.

“Rebuilding the justice system will not be possible without sustained investment in all parts of the system, including not just prisons and probation, but legal aid and the courts.

“The well-known crisis in prisons is only part of what is needed to repair our beleaguered justice system.

“The physical infrastructure of the courts is so poor that 100 emergency courtrooms are closed every week.*

“In some parts of the country, amidst a massive backlog, criminal cases ready for trial are listed, due to be heard in the second half of 2027.

“Children’s care cases often take more than a year to resolve, but the aim is to resolve these cases within six months.**

“Legal aid lawyers, who provide a vital public service to those forced to navigate our courts, are becoming as rare as NHS dentists.

“Increasing funding for all these elements is imperative if we are to prevent system collapse and protect ordinary people’s access to justice. Our research has shown that a well-funded justice system saves public money.***

“The message the Lord Chancellor needs to hear is spend to save.”

Notes to editors

• * To see Here

• ** More details here

• *** See our research with Frontier Economics here

About the Law Society

The Law Society is an independent professional body working globally to support and represent lawyers, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.

Press office contact: Nick Mayo | 020 8049 4100