Consultation outcome

Legal Aid Means Test Review

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Equalities assessment

Impact assessment: Civil

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Impact assessment: Crime

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Detail of outcome

This is the government’s response to the legal aid means test review consultation which ran from 15 March to 7 June 2022.

This response outlines the government’s proposals which aim to align civil and criminal legal aid more closely through a four-phase implementation plan.

This response provides a summary of the consultation questions and the responses received, as well as a detailed government response, policy proposals for each theme and specific questions raised in the consultation.


Original consultation

Summary

A review of the means test for civil and criminal legal aid.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

In February 2019, the government announced a review of the means test for legal aid as part of the Legal Support Action Plan. This paper sets out for consultation our proposed changes to the means test for legal aid.

Means testing is a vital aspect of determining eligibility for most types of legal aid. It aims to ensure that legal aid is targeted at those most in need, and that those who can afford to contribute towards their legal costs do so.

Chapters 1 and 2 summarise the existing legal aid means tests and lay out our overarching approach to legal aid eligibility. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 detail our proposals in relation to civil legal aid. Chapters 6 and 7 detail our proposals in relation to criminal legal aid. Chapter 8 outlines our proposals for implementation and monitoring.

Our proposals are followed by accompanying questions. We welcome responses to those questions as well as to some wider questions on the potential impact of our proposals.

You will find the consultation document, a large print version and a Welsh summary below. We will shortly publish a full Welsh translation and an easy read version.

Contact us at: LegalAidMeansTestReview@justice.gov.uk

Documents

Legal Aid Means Test Review

Legal Aid Means Test Review Easy Read

Impact assessment - crime

Impact assessment - civil

Equalities assessment

Adolygiad o’r Profion Modd ar gyfer Cymorth Cyfreithiol

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Updates to this page

Published 15 March 2022
Last updated 25 May 2023 + show all updates
  1. Consultation response published.

  2. Welsh translation published.

  3. Legal Aid Means Test Review Easy Read documents added to attachements

  4. First published.

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