The latest episode of Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes on Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors and Vice Chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group to discuss the impact of the Legal Aid Agency cyber attack on her firm, and the wider legal aid community. 

The Legal Aid Agency revealed as many as 2 million records dating back 2007 had been hacked back in May of this year; with the details of those affected particularly sensitive in cases of domestic abuse and vulnerable clients. 

For firms, the closure of the LAA portal left them unable to submit bills or process amendments digitally, forcing a return to paper-based applications. This sudden shift created confusion, especially among younger staff accustomed to digital workflows. Emergency measures allowed firms to handle urgent cases, but routine work stalled, leaving many clients unrepresented.

The impact on clients was profound as Watkins notes that some victims of domestic abuse and families in care proceedings were forced to attend court without legal support.

Legal aid firms, already operating on razor-thin margins, couldn't bill for months, in some cases threatening their very survival. In the course of the discussion, Watkins candidly shares her fear of missing payroll and the need to seek support from her bank. While contingency payments—based on historical averages—provided temporary relief, they introduced accounting complexities and deferred VAT liabilities. The looming administrative burden when the portal reopens is another major concern, as firms anticipate a flood of backlogged claims and potential delays in reimbursement.

Not only that, the cyber attack compounded the stress within sector who have seen legal aid rates effectively regress. Watkins warns that some firms have stopped taking emergency cases, fearing non-payment, which could exacerbate risks for vulnerable individuals. Staff resilience has been commendable, but uncertainty persists, fuelling doubts about the sustainability of legal aid work.

Needless to say Watkins' view is to better fund legal aid, more sustainably. But more broadly the LAA cyber attack is more than a technical failure—it is a catalyst for critical reflection on the viability of legal aid. As Watkins emphasizes, society must decide whether it values equal access to justice, because without urgent reform and investment, the future of legal aid—and the clients who depend on it—remains uncertain.

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