Barriers and rules around civil legal aid to be explored by Holyrood committee

The call for views is part of a new inquiry, which aims to explore what is and is not working within the current legal aid system. It also aims to find out what changes could be made to the system in the short and long term to improve access to civil legal assistance.

The inquiry follows evidence the Committee heard which highlighted significant issues that make it difficult for people to access civil legal assistance. It is taking place against a backdrop of continued commentary about the fall in the number of solicitors offering to undertake legal aid work in recent months.

The Committee’s work will focus on civil justice issues, which are the branch of the law which deals with disputes about rights and responsibilities. These can include important issues around housing, relationships or social security issues.

Short-term and long-term reforms to the legal aid system are currently being considered by the Scottish Government and the Committee will share its findings to contribute to that work.

The Committee’s call for views will be open from today, 13 March, to 17 April 2025.

Reflecting on the launch of the call for views, Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, said:

"Civil legal aid is a vital tool that helps ensure that everyone can have access to justice. It’s particularly important for the most vulnerable in our society who can face financial and societal challenges when trying to access legal advice and representation.

"Whether in relation to our work on the Regulation of Legal Services Bill, Civil Court Fees or with our scrutiny of the work of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, increasing challenges with access to legal aid have been repeatedly raised as a significant concern.

"In this inquiry, we’re keen to understand more about what could be done to improve access to legal aid. We’re particularly keen to hear from solicitors, organisations offering advice on civil justice issues and organisations that support people in accessing civil legal assistance."