Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) is dedicated to improving social mobility in the legal sector, supporting the interests of junior lawyers, and supporting students in their transition from education to legal practice. Excitingly, they have launched a competition! This is an opportunity for you to become more familiar with YLAL and engage with prevalent issues in the legal aid sector (and potentially get a prize!).

The question

A 2021 Report by the House of Commons Justice Committee stated that, ‘Legal aid is in urgent need of reform to protect fairness and ensure that the most vulnerable can have access to justice.’ In your view, what are the most pressing issues facing the legal aid system in England and Wales? Please focus your answer on one area of law.

The competition will be open to all first and second year LLB students, BA law students and GDL students. 

Answers must not exceed 1000 words and must be submitted via email to ylalsocmob@gmail.com. Deadline is 31st March 2025.

Prizes

And what of those prizes I mentioned? Well…First Prize Winner will receive £250, and their masterpiece being published on the YLAL website, blog and social media (reaching 20,000 followers). The Runner-Up will receive £100.

Want to know more about the YLAL?

If you’re not familiar with the YLAL it is worth looking at their website to find details of their events, mentorship scheme, networking opportunities and the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund. The latter is an initiative that provides financial assistance to aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities.