Attorney General’s Office revives committee to strengthen legal awareness nationwide
The Attorney General’s Office has announced the relaunch of the Public Legal Education (PLE) Committee as part of a wider initiative to improve legal awareness and public understanding of rights and responsibilities across England and Wales.
The announcement, made on 28 April 2026, includes the introduction of new Public Legal Education Principles designed to support more coordinated and strategic delivery of legal education initiatives throughout the sector. The relaunched committee will operate under the oversight of the Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, while the Attorney General’s Office will provide administrative and secretariat support.
According to the government, the committee will remain sector-led and include members drawn from across the public legal education community. It will meet four times each year and continue operating specialist sub-groups focused on both adult and youth audiences.
The Attorney General will attend committee meetings and hold annual discussions with the committee’s co-chairs to provide strategic oversight. The committee’s first priority will be implementing newly developed Public Legal Education Principles, which were created in collaboration with stakeholders during a recent policy hackathon organised by the AGO.
The principles are structured around the acronym “LEARN” and are intended to guide future public legal education work. Under the framework, legal education should improve public legal capability by helping people understand their rights and responsibilities while developing confidence to use the law effectively in everyday life.
The government also stated that public legal education must be evidence-led and based on authoritative information. The principles emphasise the importance of providing accurate and practical guidance, particularly as concerns grow around misinformation and the increasing use of artificial intelligence.
The framework further promotes active participation, encouraging legal education initiatives to be developed alongside communities and tailored to different learning needs and experiences.
Another principle highlights the need for public legal education to remain responsive by using technology and accessible communication methods to reach people more effectively. The final principle describes public legal education as a “national mission” and a wider public good, arguing that legal information should not be confined to traditional legal settings.
The Attorney General’s Office said its role would focus on improving coordination across the sector, sharing evidence and best practice, and supporting organisations in delivering information through appropriate channels and formats.
The government stressed that the initiative is intended to complement existing public legal education work rather than replace it. The relaunch reflects increasing focus within government and the legal sector on improving public understanding of the law and ensuring people can access reliable legal information in a changing digital environment.