In July 2022, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced a £4 million fund for charities and organisations that provide legal help to consumers struggling to pay legal fees. Up from £3 million last year, the funding is intended to help litigants in person (LiPs) resolve their disputes at an earlier stage in the legal process. The recently appointed Justice Minister Lord Bellamy QC said the extra funding "will help more people resolve issues quickly, away from court, saving them money and the stress that can be caused."
Under the new criteria, most grants awarded to organisations are expected to range between £25,000 and £75,000; a far cry from the £540,000 Support Through Court, a legal charity working with unrepresented people, has received annually since 2014. Its Chief Executive Eileen Pereira said that while she welcomes the opportunity to apply for the new funding "every day hundreds of people who can't access legal aid walk into court buildings in need of support and guidance and this is only set to rise as the cost of living increases. Without the funding we have received for the eight years, we're facing the real possibility of closing the doors on the support we provide."
The effect on LiPs, many of whom rely on charitable help, could be particularly detrimental, and as they require more time and support from the courts, there risks further delays in an already backlogged civil justice system.
The most recent data from the government's Official Injury Claim portal shows that while most claimants are represented, there have been some 14,000 LiPs making claims on the portal so far this year. That means more potential strain on the courts, and on the charities supporting LiPs.
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, charities providing both practical and emotional support have never been more important. Those supporting LiP are no exception and more needs to be provided to ensure no consumers are excluded from access to civil justice.