New research by the Legal Services Board and the Law Society reveals that two-thirds of adults in England and Wales (66%) have experienced at least one legal issue in the last four years.
The Legal Needs Survey 2023* looks at the legal issues and needs of individuals across England and Wales.
The most common legal issues are related to employment, finance, welfare and benefits (28%), wills, trusts and probate (26%), consumer problems (26%) and property, construction and planning (25%).
Of those who had a legal issue, half (52%) received professional help, while 38% did not receive any legal help.
- Most (57%) of those experiencing an issue have a contentious legal problem, which is more likely to involve a court or tribunal process. Half (51%) of these said they needed support to deal with the problem.
- Almost a third (32%) did not have their issue resolved adequately and had an unmet legal need. A fifth (20%) had an unmet need because they did not get professional help.
- One in ten said it was their doctor, and 8% used their insurance company for advice. 11% only got non-professional help, including from friends or family.
- The level of unmet legal need has not improved since the last survey in 2019 when it was 31%.
- 15% said that their legal issue was caused by the increasing cost of living, and 12% said their issue was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 26% said that their issue was made worse by the increasing cost of living, and 23% said that their issue was made worse by the pandemic.
Alan Kershaw, Chair of the Legal Services Board, said:
“People frequently require legal services when they are going through important life events. They are also often vulnerable because they may have been a victim of crime, dealing with a high-value transaction, or seeking compensation for a loss. Everyone should have access to professional legal support when they need it. But this survey shows people don’t always get it.
“Regulation has a vital part to play in creating a legal services market where people can identify that they have a legal issue, easily shop around for support, compare prices, and choose a provider that meets their needs. We are pressing forward with our to ensure that regulators’ efforts to empower people who need legal services are sufficient. If our expectations are not being met, we will not hesitate to act.”
Alan Kershaw added:
“The Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have caused people’s legal issues to worsen, and it is concerning that some people feel they need to rely on friends or family who are not legally qualified rather than seek professional legal support. This may be because they do not recognise their problem as being legal in nature or are worried about the cost, or simply do not know where to go.
“The level of unmet need demonstrates the size of the market legal providers could tap into. We hope regulators and providers use the insights from this survey to find new opportunities and drive competition.
“Initiatives such as the Legal Choices website help point people looking for legal advice in the right direction, and we encourage the regulators to do more to ensure people can identify when they have a legal problem. The research we are publishing today is a clear indication that there is plenty to be done to help people understand their legal rights and the services available to them and increase their confidence and ability to access justice.”