Purpose Coalition and ARAG said earlier access to legal advice could improve outcomes and reduce pressure on courts and public services
Campaign group The Purpose Coalition and legal expenses insurer ARAG have launched a new report urging policymakers to place early legal advice at the centre of the justice system and improve public awareness of legal expenses insurance (LEI) as a means of widening access to justice.
The report, Insuring Justice, was launched this week at an event in Parliament hosted in Parliament by Ben Maguire MP. It brings together recommendations aimed at helping individuals and small businesses access legal support earlier, before disputes escalate into more serious problems.
The organisations argue that many people face legal issues without obtaining professional advice, often because they are unaware that legal assistance may already be available through insurance policies attached to products such as home, motor or business cover.
The report highlights pressures facing the justice system, including court delays, unmet legal need and the cost of obtaining legal advice. It argues that earlier intervention can help individuals understand their rights, resolve disputes more effectively and reduce pressure on public services.
A central recommendation is that early legal advice should become a routine part of the justice system rather than a measure of last resort.
The report states: “There is an opportunity to embed this principle more firmly within the justice system. Policymakers should place early legal advice at the centre of how legal problems are addressed, recognising it as a normal and essential first step.”
It also calls for clearer national signposting to legal advice services, including insurance-backed legal assistance, and stronger integration between advice providers, public bodies, local authorities and community organisations.
The report adds: “This could be supported through clearer national signposting to legal advice services, including insurance-backed provision, alongside stronger integration with public bodies, local authorities and trusted community organisations.”
The authors further argue that greater awareness among MPs and constituency caseworkers could help people obtain assistance sooner and prevent problems from reaching crisis point.
The report says: “For members of Parliament and their casework teams, improved awareness and signposting would enable constituents to access help earlier, reducing the volume of cases reaching crisis point.”
Justine Greening, chair of The Purpose Coalition and a former Conservative cabinet minister, said: “Public provision remains vital, but it can’t meet every need. Models that widen access to guidance and representation, particularly for those who fall outside traditional eligibility thresholds, have a crucial role to play.
“They can help people take action sooner, reduce the number of disputes that escalate unnecessarily and ensure that outcomes are not determined purely by financial means.
“This is not just about reducing the strain on courts, though that matters. It’s about enabling better outcomes earlier.”
David Haynes, chief executive of ARAG, added: “Legal expenses insurance is not a replacement for legal aid and it should not be seen as one.
“But it can be a valuable part of a wider solution – particularly for those who fall just outside eligibility for public support but still need help to assert their rights.
“Looking ahead we want to do more than describe what already exists. We want to work with government, with parliamentarians and with others across the justice system to improve access to early advice and prevent problems escalating unnecessarily.”
The report concludes that improving awareness of legal expenses insurance and encouraging earlier access to legal advice could help address unmet legal need while reducing pressure on courts, public services and advice agencies.