We are planning on responding to the MOJ’s consultation on the creation of an Interest on Lawyers’ Client Account (ILCA) scheme and want to engage with as many legal aid practitioners and firms as possible to gather evidence about the likely impact of the proposed scheme on legal aid providers and client access. I would be super grateful if you could push this (very short) survey out to your crime colleagues https://lnkd.in/ejyjs2SR. It will remain open until COP on 2 February 2026.
The survey can be completed anonymously. Doing so will help us understand the likely impact of the proposals on legal aid providers and on clients. We understand that there are no plans to designate funds to enhance access to justice or legal aid. The consultation notes that:
‘At this stage, we do not propose designating the scheme’s income for specific access to justice projects, or endowing it to grant-making bodies, as is the case in some other jurisdictions. This is because core justice services in England and Wales require sustained investment across multiple areas. Given this context, earmarking ILCA income for narrow purposes to begin with could limit its beneficial impact. Instead, the funds can be directed to the areas of greatest need within the justice system.’
The consultation itself can be found here:
Deadline for responses is 9 February 2026.