header-logo header-logo

23 May 2025 / Graeme Hydari
Issue: 8117 / Categories: Features , Legal aid focus , Profession
printer mail-detail

Book review: Legal Aid Handbook 2024/25

219523
"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,

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
back-to-top-scroll