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07 October 2026
Categories: Legal News , Legal aid focus , Legal services
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Legal advice boost sparks call for more investment

The government has launched a £16m legal support grant to support 48 frontline legal advice organisations supporting people facing eviction, problem debt, benefit disputes and family breakdown

The programme, which runs from this month until March 2029, will be administered by the Access to Justice Foundation (AJF).

Courts minister Sarah Sackman KC said the investment would help people ‘access trusted advice earlier, preventing problems from spiralling into crisis’.

AJF CEO Clare Carter said: ‘The organisations funded through this programme provide trusted support when people need it most.’

However, Law Society president Mark Evans, while welcoming the funding boost, said ‘this one-off investment will have limited long-term impact.

‘Moreover, these organisations cannot be effective unless they are able to refer on those clients who need more specialist advice and representation. This grant is no substitute for reversing the effect of poor legal aid funding by successive governments.’ Evans urged the government to commit to regular investment.

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The government has launched a £16m legal support grant to support 48 frontline legal advice organisations supporting people facing eviction, problem debt, benefit disputes and family breakdown
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