04/09/2025
Long Marks 10th Anniversary Of Legal Services Agency
The Legal Services Agency (LSA) recently marked its 10th anniversary with a visit from Justice Minister Naomi Long to its headquarters in Belfast.
The Minister's visit coincided with the release of provisional figures showing the LSA paid out a total of £120 million for legal aid work in the last financial year.
The total expenditure by the LSA in 2024/25 includes £116.8 million on legal aid cases, with an additional £3.2 million paid in respect of legacy inquests.
Minister Long said the figure demonstrates the ongoing commitment to providing high-quality access to justice in Northern Ireland. She added that she values the role legal aid plays in supporting the most vulnerable in society, as people often encounter the justice system "at times of crisis." She added that her Department continues to make "significant investment" to ensure those most in need can access legal representation.
During her visit, Minister Long paid tribute to the LSA's staff for their "hard work," particularly for their efforts in reducing the length of time it takes to make payments. The Agency has successfully cut the amount of bills it needs to assess. At the end of March 2025, the LSA had £5.7m of bills to assess, a 58% reduction from the £13.6m at the same time in 2024. This figure has since been further reduced to £3.9m, a decrease of 32% since the end of March 2025.
The Minister said the increased spend on legal aid reflects both a rise in demand and the "contribution the Agency makes to the civil and criminal justice systems."
The Minister's visit coincided with the release of provisional figures showing the LSA paid out a total of £120 million for legal aid work in the last financial year.
The total expenditure by the LSA in 2024/25 includes £116.8 million on legal aid cases, with an additional £3.2 million paid in respect of legacy inquests.
During her visit, Minister Long paid tribute to the LSA's staff for their "hard work," particularly for their efforts in reducing the length of time it takes to make payments. The Agency has successfully cut the amount of bills it needs to assess. At the end of March 2025, the LSA had £5.7m of bills to assess, a 58% reduction from the £13.6m at the same time in 2024. This figure has since been further reduced to £3.9m, a decrease of 32% since the end of March 2025.
The Minister said the increased spend on legal aid reflects both a rise in demand and the "contribution the Agency makes to the civil and criminal justice systems."
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