Why do we need legal aid?
Legal aid is fundamental to social justice.
Why legal aid is important
In any given year legal problems such as divorce, eviction or debt will be experienced by:
- 1 in every 4 people
- 1 in 3 long-term sick or disabled people
- 1 in 2 unemployed people
- 1 in 2 lone parents.
Defending people’s rights
Legal aid funds legal advice and representation to people held in police stations, under investigation or facing criminal charges.
Of those people held in police stations:
- nearly 1 in 4 are held for more than 24 hours
- 1 in 5 are aged 16 or under
- 1 in 4 are considered vulnerable
- just over half of those held are charged
- no further action is taken with 1 in 5 cases.
How legal aid helps
In a typical year legal aid will help over 2 million people, including:
- over 250,000 people involved in family disputes
- over 90,000 people struggling with debt
- around 125,000 people with their housing problems
- around 18,000 people suffering domestic abuse
- over 90,000 people get the welfare benefits they are entitled to
- over 250,000 people ringing the Community Legal Advice helpline
- people held at police stations on more than 750,000 occasions
- people involved in more than 560,000 magistrates’ court appearances.
Where would we be without legal aid?
What do you think society would be like without government funded legal aid and advice?