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Legal aid is the public financing of legal costs, among other things the cost of legal advice or representation for people who cannot afford to pay for it themselves. There are separate regulations for the civil sector (e.g. family disputes or housing issues) and criminal legal aid. This article is about accessing civil legal aid. |
Access to civil legal advice is a cornerstone of a just society. For many people, legal advice can mean the difference between preserving a home, protecting family relationships, escaping abuse, or navigating complex immigration issues. But across Wales, growing gaps in care – often referred to as “legal advice deserts” – are leaving vulnerable people without the support they need. This is particularly true for migrant women and other vulnerable groups, who often face multiple, overlapping barriers that make it difficult for them to access the help they need.
The growth of legal advice deserts
Civil legal aid remains the main route People who cannot afford private legal fees. This may include advice and representation in court and other forms of support such as family mediation. Eligibility and the scope of funding are regulated by the UK Legal Aid Framework and managed by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) has reformed the criminal justice system and, among other things, cut funding for legal aid. The Bar Association has found that these funding cuts have resulted in fewer people having access to civil legal advice. In 2022, the Senedd's Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee stated that the LASPO contributed to a “lack of specialist social law advice across Wales from those with legal training”.
Over the decade since LASPO national surveys and analyses show that certain parts of England and Wales has become a “legal advice desert”.where there is little or no access to local face-to-face legal advice funded by legal aid. While parts of England are also affected, Wales is more severely affected rural geography and lower density of lawyers exacerbates the problem and makes access to personal advice more difficult in some areas.
Certain groups are more vulnerable
National surveys and analysis show that large proportions of the population in England and Wales do not have access to civil legal aid. While a lack of access should concern us all, some groups are particularly at risk.
Those entitled to social assistance
The social system offers support and help to those most in need. In some cases, however Beneficiaries will appeal decisions that they think are wrong or that they are dissatisfied with. Access to civil legal aid is restricted for those appealing against welfare decisions. with only 1 provider in Wales (based in Cardiff). Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Citizens Advice say that the capacity to provide specialist benefits advice has never recovered to pre-LASPO levels.
The Welsh Government provides resources through its funding Single Advisory Fund (SAF), to support free, customer-focused social information and advisory services. Investigations into Effectiveness of the SAF found mixed evidence regarding the SAF's ability to meet demand, with Mick Antoniw MS describing the fund as “Band-Aids on the weakness of our current legal aid system“.
People at risk of homelessness
Civil legal aid can help with serious housing problems such as an eviction. As part of his examination of the Homelessness Bill (Wales).the Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee includes how housing and homeless counseling services are provided are stretched. In 2021 a Report of the Public Ombudsman for Wales identified barriers to accessing legal aid-funded advice/representation to assist in the review and appeal of homeless decisions.
Cared about people
Those in need of care often need legal advice, for example if they want to stay in their own home. Access to legal aid for community care was one of the few areas of legal aid not covered by the LAPSO, but there is still a decline in the number of providers.
In June 2025 reported the Bar Association There were a total of five community legal aid services in Wales (three providers in Cardiff and one each in Gwynedd and the Vale of Glamorgan).
Immigrants and those who cannot access public resources
Immigration and asylum law is complex and subject to constant change. Whilst these cases continue to be eligible for public funding and specialist advice, demand is outstripping supply in many areas of Wales. A Report for Justice Together in 2025 noted that there are only four offices in Cardiff and Newport and one each in Swansea and Wrexham.
The Welsh Government has Funding made available improve access to free advice. It also supported the Bevan Foundation to develop a strategy for the development of the free immigration legal sector from source in Wales. However, that is Senedd's cross-party group on human rights say “While organizations have stepped in to provide increased support, they do not have the capacity to address the scale of the challenge“.
Migrants: hidden, vulnerable and often without recourse
In 2022 a report from the Senedd's Equality and Social Justice Committee found that migrant women affected by gender-based violence often face it intersecting barriers Access to civil law adviceincluding: language; uncertain immigration status, no or limited recourse to public funds (NRPF), fear of deportation and culturally specific stigmatization. Many may be unaware of their rights or reluctant to contact statutory services such as the police for fear of immigration consequences.
In response to the committee's recommendation to set up a crisis fund to support migrant women, the Welsh Government launched a pilot project in 2023. Welsh Women's Aid have called for the fund to be permanent and provide dedicated funding for organizations supporting survivors.
The future of civil legal aid
A Review of civil legal aid The study, completed this year, assessed long-term reform options to create a more sustainable system. In July 2025 the government will announced an increase in civil legal aid fees in the areas of housing as well as immigration and asylum. The Ministry of Justice has set up a Legal Support Strategy Delivery Group to explore how best to provide legal advice to “people with social welfare legal issues”.
However, Professional associationsincluding the Law Society, argue that funding levels are well below what is needed to address structural decline. A Select Committee of the House of Lords The report was recently completed that while an increase in legal aid fees is welcome, the “government needs to take a more innovative approach to reforming the legal aid and advice system”.
Article by Claire ThomasSenedd Research, Welsh Parliament
A deserted landscape: accessing criminal legal aid in Wales (Part 1)