Legal Aid provides essential legal support for those on low incomes, but the current system is under immense financial pressure, with a cost of approximately £1.7 Billion annually.

Total legal aid cases (criminal and civil): 986,795

• Police station advice: 684,253
• Magistrates’ court representation: 284,480
• Prison law: 17,416
• Civil work associated with crime: 57
• Advice & assistance on appeals: 589

To achieve a substantial cost reduction of £950 Million, a radical new approach is needed. This includes stopping the use of Legal Aid to fund politically motivated human rights cases, claims by non-UK citizens, or claims that proceed to higher courts.

A major part of this cost saving can be achieved by utilizing AI to replace the need for in-person police station advice. AI-powered systems could provide immediate, clear, and accurate legal guidance to individuals at the police station. This would automate a large portion of the current workload, allowing human legal professionals to focus on more complex cases and delivering a significant reduction in cost.

This not only streamlines the process but also frees up police resources for more serious crimes, ensuring that legal aid is delivered more efficiently.

By leveraging technology and refocusing legal aid on its core purpose, we can create a system that is both more efficient and financially sustainable.