Story perspectives

Bar Council: £100M Tax Threatens Legal Aid Access

3/17/2026

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Bar Council Warns

The Bar Council warns a £100 million tax on interest from client accounts could threaten access to justice by reducing funds for small legal aid firms.
The Bar Council says the plans are vague and could trigger further closures of legal aid firms.
The Bar Council says the Ministry of Justice is not genuinely consulting on viability.
The Ministry of Justice defends the scheme as necessary to address Britain's court crisis and cites models from other countries.

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Lammy's Controversial Reforms

The UK government plans to reduce jury trials by instituting judge-only hearings for offenses under three years, proposed by Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Critics warn the change could cause miscarriages of justice and erode public trust.
Thirty organizations representing victims of violence against women have urged Lammy to reconsider.
The reforms aim to address a backlog of over 80,000 cases, but observers doubt their effectiveness.

History

Historical Context

The Access to Justice Act of 1999 established a legal aid framework in the UK, allocating £1.5 billion annually to support legal services. However, reforms since 2012, particularly the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, have drastically reduced legal aid availability, impacting vulnerable populations. Currently, over 80,000 cases await resolution, raising concerns about public trust in the legal system and access to justice.

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Bar Council Warns

The Bar Council warns a £100 million tax on interest from client accounts could threaten access to justice by reducing funds for small legal aid firms.
The Bar Council says the plans are vague and could trigger further closures of legal aid firms.
The Bar Council says the Ministry of Justice is not genuinely consulting on viability.
The Ministry of Justice defends the scheme as necessary to address Britain's court crisis and cites models from other countries.

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