Summary
The Access to Justice Act 1999 reformed the legal aid system in England and Wales, replacing the Legal Aid Board with the Legal Services Commission. It established the Community Legal Service (for civil cases) and the Criminal Defence Service (for criminal cases). The Act also reformed conditional fee agreements ('no win, no fee') and rights of audience for solicitors.
Key Points
- Created the Legal Services Commission to replace the Legal Aid Board
- Established the Community Legal Service Fund for civil legal aid
- Created the Criminal Defence Service for publicly funded criminal defence
- Reformed conditional fee agreements (CFAs) — 'no win, no fee'
- Allowed recovery of success fees and insurance premiums from losing parties (later reversed by LASPO 2012)
- Extended rights of audience to employed solicitors
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2012 — Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
Replaced the Legal Services Commission with the Legal Aid Agency and reformed CFA cost recovery.