The Government has recently announced an annual investment of up to £92 million as a boost for the criminal legal aid system to enhance access to justice for victims of crime. This much-needed funding was announced on 1 December 2025 by the Courts Minister, Sarah Sackman. She said that this funding was crucial for restoring public confidence in the justice system.
This was welcomed by the Law Society as an important advancement for this vital public service. Law Society Vice President Brett Dixon said, “We all benefit from there being enough criminal legal aid lawyers to carry out this crucial work at police stations, in magistrates’ courts, in the Crown Court, and in prisons.” This funding will help boost the profession, which many professionals have been leaving over recent years. The Law Society conducted research that highlights the severity of the situation, revealing that since 2017, over 1,400 criminal duty solicitors have left the profession. This means that many duty solicitor schemes are at risk of becoming unsustainable. Only 7% of solicitors are now under 35. This means that in the future, if there are not enough criminal defence practitioners, then access to justice will diminish and pressures on the justice system will only increase. The Law Society has called for further action to give the profession confidence that the government has a long-term commitment to criminal legal aid and also to implement cost-of-living increases for professionals.
Mr Dixon emphasized the importance of criminal defence lawyers in the UK who help to maintain an equitable judicial process. He said “Criminal defence lawyers help ensure that there is a level playing field across the system, that cases can be dealt with efficiently, and that victims, witnesses and defendants can get timely justice and fair outcomes.” He went further and described the extra funding as “a positive step forward and a short-term boost for the profession after decades of underfunding and cuts.”
The new measures include an increase in the escape fee for police station work, which the Law Society views as a significant improvement. However, there remains disappointment that the Ministry of Justice did not address the additional costs of out-of-hours work, which is a concern for many professionals in the sector.
We have a team of dedicated criminal defence lawyers at JW Hughes & Co and if you have been accused of a crime and need expert help, please contact us on 01492 596596.