The Value of Justice for All
- Savings of up to £12bn could be made by the Treasury over the next 10 years by investing in the provision of specialist free legal advice.
- Individuals and families in need of specialist advice services frequently present with an average of just under 5 issues per person and often only access advice at a point of crisis.
- Demand for the provision of free legal advice shows no signs of slowing down, and the current economic climate suggests demand is only likely to keep growing.
We’re pleased to release the Value of Justice for All report that we commissioned from Pragmatix Advisory, with the support of The Bar Council. The study demonstrates the substantial economic benefits of investing in free legal advice services and the significant savings it could generate for the public purse.
The report suggests that the Treasury could save up to £12 billion over the next ten years by investing in the provision of specialist free legal advice. This includes over £4 billion in the first year alone and more than £9 billion within four years.
For every £1 spent on free specialist legal advice and its outcomes in 2023, the government saved £2.71.
Beyond immediate financial savings, the report highlights additional long-term benefits. These include higher employment rates, fewer people in insecure housing, improved health and wellbeing, and reduced reliance on benefits – all of which positively impact public finances.
The report also highlights the role of advice in actively divert cases away from courts and tribunals. With the average cost of a day in civil court exceeding £3,500, the potential for investment in specialist free legal advice to also produces cost saving benefits for the justice system is significant.
The report makes plain how a properly funded free legal advice sector would make a huge difference to the hundreds of thousands of people behind each case, those working in the system and the public purse in just one year alone.
Drawing on data and responses from interviews and surveys with over 50 specialist free legal advice providers, the study warns of a “perfect storm” of challenges, with continuing and developing economic crises fuelling advice demand. Notably, there has been a shift in the economic status of those accessing free specialist advice, with more users being employed or self-employed.
The report reveals that 51% of people seeking advice have a long-standing illness or disability. On average, individuals present with 4.86 legal issues, underscoring the complexity of cases and the need for comprehensive support.
This report emphasises the challenges that multiple and intersecting legal issues present marginalised communities, and the role of advice providers in supporting the early resolution of legal issues in a cost-effective way. Without increased and sustained investment, we risk failing the people, places, and communities who need us most.
Despite the clear benefits, the free legal advice sector is at breaking point. The evidence for increased and continued investment to meet growing demand and address issues around workforce recruitment, retention, and staff wellbeing is clear.
The report makes a compelling case that funding free legal advice is not just an ethical imperative but a financially sound decision.
We are urging policymakers to consider the substantial potential savings and societal benefits when allocating resources to the justice system. We hope the report will also prove useful to our colleagues in the sector in demonstrating the economic value of investments into frontline free legal advice.
We’re sharing the press release and some key messages that we hope will be useful for stakeholders in their own impact and engagement work.
With thanks to our partners and network for their support in delivering this report
