Increasing access to justice in Scotland
Increasing resourcing for free legal advice in Scotland
As a UK-wide funder, we know that each country and region has their own challenges, and opportunities. That’s why we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Access to Justice Foundation is registered as a charity in Scotland ensuring we can work effectively within Scotland’s legal and charitable framework. We work in partnership with the legal profession, funders, and free legal advice providers at local and national levels across Scotland to ensure free legal advice services are available to the people, places, and communities most in need.
Upcoming Funding Opportunity Improving Lives Through Advice 2026
We’re launching a new unrestricted 3‑year funding programme for organisations delivering free legal advice services in Scotland, Wales, the Southeast of England, and London.
The aim of the programme is to increase access to justice for communities that need it most.
Applications will open at 12pm on 16 February 2026 and close at 12pm on 16 March 2026, with grants due to start in June 2026.
Why we need your support
people in Scotland living in poverty
children living in poverty in Scotland
communities in Scotland without direct access to a legal aid firm
When you fundraise with us in Scotland, you’re supporting advice services that help people before small problems become major crises.
Your support ensures that people across the country facing housing problems, employment disputes, benefit issues, and family crises are able to access and enforce their legal rights and feel empowered to address inequalities and challenge unfair treatment.
Help us increase our impact in Scotland
As a fundraising grant maker, we can only distribute what we’re able to fundraise. To create more impact in Scotland, we need to raise more funds to support local communities and organisations with the vital free legal advice services they need.
To do that, we need your help. Whether you’re a legal professional, advice provider, funder, or community leader, there are ways to work with us to strengthen access to justice in Scotland, ensuring your efforts directly benefit Scottish communities.
Work with us to improve access to justice
We’re currently exploring a variety of schemes to increase the amount of funds we’re able to distribute to increase access to justice for people, places, and communities most in need in Scotland.
The Access to Justice Foundation is the nominated charity to receive undistributed damages from opt-out collective action cases in the Competition Appeal Tribunal under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which will then be distributed as grants to support UK consumers, the justice system, and the wider economy.
We’re working with experts, from class representatives and legal teams, to consumer advocacy groups and advice organisations, to develop effective approaches for distributing collective action funds.
We want to increase the impact of our work in Scotland. In response to the Scottish Civil Justice Council’s Call for Evidence on Group Proceedings, we’ve therefore recommended that The Access to Justice Foundation be designated under the Civil Litigation Act 2018 as the recipient of unclaimed funds from group proceedings in Scotland.
We are awaiting the availability of Pro Bono Expenses Orders in Scotland as an equivalent to Pro Bono Costs Orders which operate in England and Wales.
We’d like to be recognised as the prescribed charity in the existing Scottish legislation which allows recovery of expenses for pro bono representation. This means that if a party wins a case with pro bono support, they may recover the costs from the other party, ensuring that pro bono work is not financially burdensome for those who need it most.
Other ways we’re raising funds in Scotland
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Residual Client Balances
Turn dormant funds into life changing legal assistance
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Responsible Business
Deliver your ESG and CSR goals and create real change for communities across the UK
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Fundraise for us
Raise funds for access to justice
Scottish Legal Walks
Join the legal community across Scotland in our signature fundraising events. Legal walks bring together lawyers, advocates, judges, legal staff, law students, and supporters of social justice to walk and raise funds for access to justice in towns and cities across Scotland.
The impact you create
When you fundraise with us in Scotland, you’re supporting advice services that help people before small problems become major crises.
Your support ensures that people across the country facing housing problems, employment disputes, benefit issues, and family crises are able to access and enforce their legal rights and feel empowered to address inequalities and challenge unfair treatment.
Your Scottish fundraising efforts stay focused on Scottish priorities, creating direct impact for the communities you know and care about.
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Our impact
Learn more about the impact we have on the communities most in need
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What we’re funding
Making justice accessible for those who need it
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Why we exist
Justice shouldn’t depend on your postcode or bank balance
