Legal help
This is a form of civil legal services which includes advice and assistance about a legal problem, but does not include representation or advocacy in proceedings. It is usually the first point of civil legal advice and can be over the telelphone or face-to-face.
See Legal aid statistics quarterly for further information.
Some figures for 2025-26 are not currently available due to the cyber-attack in May 2025.
Total matters started
Total Legal help and controlled legal representation matter starts.
Figures for 2025-26 are not currently available due to the cyber-attack in May 2025.
| Period | Total matters started |
|---|---|
| Apr 2000 - Mar 2001 | 803,828 |
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 764,697 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 811,848 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 709,769 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 654,267 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 783,455 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 851,023 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 807,459 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 886,862 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 933,815 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 785,437 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 679,781 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 573,770 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 173,662 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 171,586 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 158,102 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 147,294 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 141,138 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 141,957 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 142,907 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 117,344 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 128,171 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 131,587 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 144,808 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 155,523 |
| Apr 2025 - Mar 2026 |
Apr 2025 - Mar 2026
-
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 June 2026. Next publication: 24 September 2026 9:30am.
Total volume of claims submitted
Total volume of Legal help and controlled legal representation claims submitted.
| Period | Total volume of claims submitted |
|---|---|
| Apr 2000 - Mar 2001 | 761,583 |
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 748,890 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 798,033 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 756,569 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 715,837 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 786,522 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 876,071 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 735,436 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 756,446 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 905,944 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 812,913 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 674,042 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 599,927 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 316,161 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 194,244 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 166,056 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 161,986 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 147,197 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 139,676 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 140,379 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 110,546 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 123,585 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 132,763 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 154,319 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 163,874 |
| Apr 2025 - Mar 2026 | 162,460 |
Apr 2025 - Mar 2026
162,460
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 June 2026. Next publication: 24 September 2026 9:30am.
Housing Possession court duty scheme (HPCDS) starts
Housing Possession court duty scheme (HPCDS) starts.
| Period | Housing Possession court duty scheme (HPCDS) starts |
|---|---|
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 33,842 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 31,831 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 29,625 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 33,752 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 33,575 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 46,160 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 44,470 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 38,600 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 39,013 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 39,712 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 37,711 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 32,654 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 2,095 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 10,946 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 20,693 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 26,503 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 30,387 |
| Apr 2025 - Mar 2026 | 31,369 |
Apr 2025 - Mar 2026
31,369
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 June 2026. Next publication: 24 September 2026 9:30am.
Completed HPCDS
Housing Possession court duty scheme completed.
| Period | Completed HPCDS |
|---|---|
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 47,384 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 45,798 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 41,376 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 40,840 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 41,099 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 39,021 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 35,049 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 3,885 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 15,854 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 25,198 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 29,600 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 32,908 |
| Apr 2025 - Mar 2026 | 34,338 |
Apr 2025 - Mar 2026
34,338
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 June 2026. Next publication: 24 September 2026 9:30am.
Total value (£'000) of claims submitted
Total value (£'000) of Legal Help and Controlled Legal Representation claims submitted.
| Period | Total value (£'000) of claims submitted |
|---|---|
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 255,717 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 255,619 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 217,707 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 188,742 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 134,347 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 106,913 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 97,827 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 98,427 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 94,610 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 94,253 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 103,449 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 84,113 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 93,186 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 99,572 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 114,887 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 117,311 |
| Apr 2025 - Mar 2026 | 102,972 |
Apr 2025 - Mar 2026
102,972
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 June 2026. Next publication: 24 September 2026 9:30am.