What we do

We are committed to improving the accessibility of legal aid and helping shape a sustainable future for the legal aid sector.

Legal aid is the route through which poor and marginalised people should be able to access help, advice and representation when they need to uphold and defend their legal rights through the courts. It is an essential means by which access to justice is secured in the UK.

PLP uses a combination of legal casework, policy work, training and research  to improve access to the current civil legal aid scheme, as well as helping to shape it for the future. Ultimately, we would like to see a legal aid scheme that provides meaningful access to justice, which is accessible to those who need it, able to provide effective legal advice, and sustainable in the long-term.

Guides

Our guides to accessing legal aid – including Exceptional Case Funding – are available here.

Our main goals in this area are:

  • Increase numbers of people eligible for and/or practically able to access civil legal aid
  • Facilitate engagement in the need to ensure civil legal aid sustainability among key audiences

Read more in our 2022-25 strategy

Update – PLP’s legal challenge over immigration legal aid crisis
News & Updates

Update – PLP’s legal challenge over immigration legal aid crisis

After meeting with the Ministry of Justice, PLP continues to prepare evidence for our proposed legal challenge

Review of Civil Legal Aid: why Ministry of Justice must take action
Policy briefings and submissions

Review of Civil Legal Aid: why Ministry of Justice must take action

Why PLP told the Ministry of Justice that remote advice will not fix the legal aid crisis in their latest call for evidence

Funding and costs in Judicial Review
Events

Funding and costs in Judicial Review

19 March 2024 – 21 March 2024 @ 12:00 am – Tickets / late bookings: We are keeping bookings open until 1pm Weds 20th February for late bookers.  As per below recordings will be available following week. Practical, bite-size seminars online over three days covering costs and funding in judicial review.  All sessions are recorded and available ASAP after the live event for delegates.  The event […]