The Ministry of Justice conducted a three-month review last year on whether the Legal Aid Agency was 'useful and necessary' – and concluded that it was, it has emerged.

The review of the executive agency was carried out between August and November last year. A summary of the findings was published this week.

The review was carried out to 'provide assurance' that the LAA’s functions 'remain useful and necessary', that the LAA is effective, efficient and aligned to government priorities, and that it is well governed and properly accountable.

The ‘stage 1’ review - a self-assessment - was conducted in line with Cabinet Office public bodies guidance drawn up to meet the government’s vision of public bodies. The guidance states that arms-length bodies must be productive ‘or they will be trapped in an unsustainable cycle of spending increases’. 

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The summary said the LAA and ministry are compliant with the Cabinet Office ‘good practice indicators’ for departments and public bodies. Areas of ‘strong compliance’ included outcomes for citizens, financial management and transparency.

However, ‘holding to account’ meetings between the LAA and ministry’s ‘public bodies partnership team’ were not in place when the review began. Regular and formal accountability meetings were recommended.

According to its 2023-24 report, the LAA processed more than 360,000 applications and 1.3 billion bills, and paid 99% of 'complete, accurate' bills within 20 days. 

However, the relationship between the LAA and practitioners has not always been smooth sailing. In 2019, long-standing frustration with LAA decision-making prompted hundreds of practitioners to air their views as part of wider efforts to understand a 'serious disconnect' between senior civil servants and the profession.