Coram Children’s Legal Centre welcomes today’s announcement of a redress in the balance of fees paid to legal aid lawyers working on asylum and immigration, which will enable us to keep fighting for the rights of young refugees and migrants and play our part in maintaining a fair asylum and immigration system.
For many years, civil legal aid providers, including CCLC, have done their best to meet the needs of traumatised and vulnerable people in an environment of rising costs, high demand and an ever-shrinking pool of providers. Today, the Ministry of Justice has announced a fee increase in the areas of asylum and immigration, debt and housing.
Until this announcement, previous fee rates had not changed since 1996 – a real-terms cut of 48%. This was leading to many charities, organisations and businesses being unable to deliver the UK’s civil legal aid system despite being staffed by legal professionals deeply committed to the principle of access to justice for all.
As of October 2023, more than half of all asylum seekers were unable to find a solicitor to represent them in their asylum claim or appeal. Week in, week out, we have been forced to turn away many children, families and young people who request legal support because we are simply unable to meet the level of demand.
Civil legal aid review
The Civil Review of Legal Aid, announced by the previous government, held the promise of widespread reform, and the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that fees paid in other categories of civil legal aid remain under consideration. This is welcome. A comprehensive approach to the civil legal aid system is certainly needed across all areas of law. However, while it remains unclear how the new government will move forward with the review, asylum-seeking children and young people cannot wait; as such, we strongly welcome this urgent action being taken now.
Abdullahi Yussuf, Coram Young Citizens ambassador, said:
Legal aid is crucial for asylum-seeking families because it provides the necessary support during the daunting process of preparing asylum applications and appeals. Navigating a new country while managing complex legal paperwork alone can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting, and many people cannot manage. Legal aid ensures these families are not left to face these challenges without the help they desperately need.
Rosalyn Akar Grams, Managing Director of Legal Practice and Children’s Rights at CCLC, said:
Every day, CCLC’s legal team works to support and represent frightened, frustrated and desperate young clients facing a torrent of new and often hostile Home Office policy. The risk of navigating a life-changing, litigious and legally complex system unrepresented has a hugely negative impact on already traumatised people. This uplift to fees will make a huge difference to our capacity to operate as a charity and to continue to support children, young people and families.
