The Justice Committee has published a report on the impact of COVID-19 on lawyers and the provision of legal advice, warning that law centres, which provide a lifeline of free advice to many, may not survive the pandemic. 

It said that legal aid providers, such as law centres,  were 'already under stress' before the pandemic and the financial support provided by the government ‘cannot compensate for the significant drop-off in the amount of work being done and remove the risk of a collapse in legal services providers’. 

Their conclusion is stark: “We are concerned that as a result of Coronavirus some barristers, solicitors, and law centres may collapse.” 

The Justice Committee urged the Ministry of Justice to consider the Law Society’s proposals for monthly payments, as well as further grants for law centres and other not-for-profits. 

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