Leigh Day

Legal support for people identified as potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery.

Modern Slavery legal aid covers people identified or being assessed as potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery, including referral through the National Referral Mechanism, related immigration matters, and damages claims arising from their exploitation. The contract was significantly expanded after the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with its own dedicated allocation. Specialist providers handle most cases.

Asylum claims and a limited set of immigration matters where legal aid remains available.

Immigration and asylum legal aid is largely restricted to asylum claims, immigration detention bail applications, trafficking and modern slavery cases, and a narrow set of family reunion matters. Most other immigration work (visa applications, settlement, partner and family routes) is not covered by legal aid since the 2013 reforms. Asylum work remains a substantial area of legal aid; immigration detention work is non-means-tested.

Judicial review challenges against decisions made by public bodies.

Public Law legal aid covers judicial review, where someone seeks to overturn a decision by a public body (central or local government, the NHS, regulators) on the grounds that it was unlawful, irrational, or made through an unfair process. Cases often involve immigration, social care, housing allocation, and human rights matters. Funding is means and merits tested; the merits test is strict given the specialist and often expensive nature of the work.

Disputes over adult social care, support packages, and care home funding.

Community Care legal aid covers disputes about the social care services a local authority provides to adults with disabilities, mental health needs, or other long-term care needs. Common issues include assessment refusals, inadequate care packages, care home funding decisions, and disputes about ongoing care responsibilities. Cases are usually challenged through judicial review.

Civil claims against councils, the NHS, the police, or other public bodies for wrongful acts.

Claims Against Public Authorities covers civil compensation claims where a public body, such as a local council, the NHS, the police, or central government, has caused harm through misconduct, negligence, or breach of a duty. Examples include unlawful detention, social services failings, school exclusion errors, and serious data breaches by public bodies. Legal aid for these claims is means and merits tested.

Compensation claims for harm caused by medical treatment.

Clinical Negligence covers compensation claims for harm caused by medical treatment that fell below a reasonable standard, including misdiagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries, and medication mistakes, in either the NHS or private practice. Legal aid for clinical negligence is now highly restricted and mainly covers severe brain injury caused at or around birth. Most other clinical negligence cases are handled by no-win-no-fee solicitors outside the legal aid system.

Discrimination claims under the Equality Act in services, education, and public functions.

Discrimination legal aid covers claims under the Equality Act 2010 where someone has been treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic (age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership). It covers claims about goods and services, education, and the exercise of public functions. Most employment discrimination claims go to the Employment Tribunal rather than legal aid.