The legal advice sector supports the most vulnerable in society, but its funding model is widely agreed to be in crisis. This is having a widespread impact on access to justice, the provision of safety-nets of support and the sustainability of the not for profit advice sector.  This two year project, launched in April 2025, is funded by the Nuffield Foundation.  It takes the form of a research collaboration between the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, the Access to Justice Foundation and the University of Surrey. The project is exploring a range of funding models operating successfully in other countries, which could be transplanted to the UK to support the work of organisations providing free legal advice.

This interdisciplinary research project will explore a range of funding models which do not exist or remain under-developed in a domestic context:  

1. Residual funds from collective action cases;
2. Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA);
3. Legal expenses insurance;
4. Levies on large commercial law firms;
5. The apprenticeship levy; and
6. Re-direction of dormant client monies.

The project involves an in-depth examination of overseas schemes (history, characteristics, costs and benefits) to assess their potential in a UK setting. There will be four key stages: (a) interviews with providers of free advice to assess priorities and efficient and effective systems for fund distribution; (b) a comprehensive review of overseas schemes; (c) pause and evaluation; and (d) six in-depth case studies.

Each stage will be informed by stakeholder engagement workshops involving jurisdictional experts, lawyers, advice providers, financiers, regulators, insurers, economists and academics. The project will result in an open access database, a series of policy briefings, an accessible project report with practical recommendations and widespread dissemination of findings.

This project is funded by the Nuffield Foundation from April 2025 until May 2027.

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