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23 May 2025 / Graeme Hydari
Issue: 8117 / Categories: Features , Legal aid focus , Profession
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Book review: Legal Aid Handbook 2024/25

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"No required information on legal aid is left uncovered in this handbook"
  • Authors: Vicky Ling, Sue James and Simon Mullings
  • Publisher: Legal Action Group
  • ISBN: 9781913648688
  • RRP: £85

As a legal aid practitioner who has worked in criminal legal aid for over 40 years, several thoughts came to mind while reviewing the excellent and thorough Legal Aid Handbook.

One item of note is the change from paper to digital over the years, regarding applications, costs, management, and just how complicated the administration of the legal aid system has become. This results in this handbook necessitating 698 pages of vital information, plus an index. It resembles the unwieldly tax manuals, but in this case, it sets out the information in a neat, logical and accessible form.

I am also reminded of the importance of legal aid funding to those seeking legal help and justice, but balanced against the need to prevent the misuse of the public money made available for such help.

Essential knowledge

Unfortunately,

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