News from the Access to Justice Foundation

18 months following its creation, the Community Justice Fund reflects on issues facing the specialist legal advice sector & announces its commitment to creating a sustainable fund for the sector over the next 10 years.  Read the full release here. 

Defending the public purse: The economic value of the free legal advice sector September 2021 Read the full report Supporting free legal advice would save Treasury £4bn next year * New economic research shows that Treasury would save over £4bn next year alone by supporting free legal advice for the most vulnerable * Modelling shows…

People who have fallen on hard times during the pandemic will be helped by extra funding for free legal advice, the government has announced. An additional £2 million is being invested in the Community Justice Fund (CJF), which supports more than 70 not-for-profit organisations providing legal help to those who have lost their job, been…

21 June – 21 October 2021 Over 400 teams have already signed up to take part in Legal Walks this year. The events will raise much needed funds for specialist free legal advice charities in the UK, which have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking place on various dates between the 21 June…

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project, a programme within the Law Faculty of the University of Cambridge, was invited by the Access to Justice Foundation to conduct research into the pro bono costs scheme currently operating in the civil courts in England and Wales. The aim of the research was to obtain information on the level…

The Access to Justice Foundation (ATJF) works to improve access to justice for the most vulnerable in society. We are a fundraising and funding organisation for the access to justice and pro bono sector. We fundraise through unclaimed client accounts donations from law firms; pro bono costs; and fundraising events in England, Wales, and Scotland. Following the…

By Nina Armangue, Volunteer at the Access to Justice Foundation Courts have always adhered to tradition and formality, and the legal system has generally resisted change. But the legal aid sector has been gravely affected by a long period of enormous and sustained funding cuts and technology could provide some help and relief to a…

Imogen Edge and James Kenrick report on data indicating an alarming increase in young people seeking help for housing, employment and benefits problems, and question whether advice services are prepared to respond. There is mounting evidence – and concern – about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s mental health. Far less attention…

The annual Legal Walks are set to return in-person for 2021 – government guidelines permitting Walks will take place in cities across the UK this summer, including Northampton, Oxford, Sheffield, Carlisle, Reading, Brighton and more Walks in Scotland, Wales and other major cities across England, including London, will take place in the autumn Walks in…

Take part in the Access to Justice Foundation’s #GotheExtraMile for Justice day on Wednesday 3rd March in celebration of Justice Week 2021 Challenge yourself to Go the Extra Mile for Justice with the Access to Justice Foundation to support free legal advice services across the UK during Justice Week. Why do we need to Go…

Funding from a new grant has now been fully awarded to 11 different projects supporting vulnerable people across England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has announced. new grant will enhance access to free legal advice and support jointly delivered by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Access to Justice Foundation full £3.1 million…

    21 January 2021 The last ten months has been hugely testing for everyone working in the advice sector, which has further underlined the importance of the support it offers to vulnerable people at very stressful times in their lives. We continue to be grateful for the unwavering dedication of those within the sector,…