Big news for the UK’s overworked immigration legal aid sector: legal aid fees are getting their biggest hike since 1996. The Ministry of Justice just announced increases of up to 41%, including hourly rates rising from £52.65 to £69.30 in London and fixed asylum legal help jumping from £413 to £559.
The move comes after years of complaints about underfunding and burnout. The government says the £20 million annual boost will improve access to justice and help clear the asylum and immigration backlog. Legal aid professionals have cautiously welcomed the change, but many say proper follow-through is key to real, long-term improvement.
