New research from the Law Society of England and Wales and Miller Research, reveals the scale of legal need across Wales and shows that the legal system continues to play a vital role in everyday life.
The Legal Needs in Wales report shows that around two in three (73%) people in Wales have experienced one or more legal issues in recent years. While this is broadly similar to England, the findings highlight differences in the types of issues people face, with Wales showing a notably higher proportion of wills, trusts and probate matters (30.7%).
Encouragingly, where people are able to access legal advice, experiences are overwhelmingly positive. More than 90 per cent of respondents who received advice reported a positive experience, higher than in England.
However, access to legal support remains inconsistent, and the research points to ongoing challenges in accessing help. Almost one third (32.4%) of respondents reported some level of unmet legal need for contentious issues, driven primarily by difficulties finding appropriate support and delays.
The findings also highlight clear regional and socioeconomic differences. Mid and west Wales recorded the highest levels of unmet legal need, with nearly 60 per cent citing difficulties accessing support. People living in the most deprived areas of Wales were also more likely to report unmet legal need.
The report also found that:
- around two thirds (66.9%) of respondents sought guidance online when managing their legal issue, with online channels used four to six times more often than offline sources
- while around 65 per cent of respondents received some form of help, but around 35% received no help at all
- difficulty finding someone able or willing to help was the most commonly reported barrier to accessing legal support (50.2 per cent)
- reports of discrimination were relatively rare, with disability and age the most commonly cited grounds where discrimination was identified. Reports of race-related discrimination were much lower in Wales (2.5%) than in England (5%). Reports of gender-related discrimination was also lower (5.8% vs 6.7%).
Mark Evans, president of the Law Society and council member for North Wales, said:
“This research underlines the central role solicitors play in supporting people across Wales. Solicitors were the most frequently used source of legal advice, and where people were able to access professional support, satisfaction levels were extremely high. That speaks to the trust people place in the profession and the quality of advice being provided across Wales.
“At the same time, the findings highlight clear challenges around access. Too many people, particularly in more deprived communities and in parts of rural Wales, are struggling to find the help they need. Addressing those barriers is essential if we are to ensure that legal support is available to everyone who needs it.”
Jonathan Davies, head of Wales at the Law Society, added that ‘while many people encounter legal problems in their everyday lives, it is encouraging to see exceptionally high levels of satisfaction among those who could access legal advice’.
Davies said the legal support remains inconsistent across Wales, with unmet legal need ‘concentrated in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, pointing to a widening gap in access to justice and the growing impact of legal deserts’.
He added:
“These findings underline the importance of ensuring the legal profession is equipped to meet demand in every community. This must include action to support a sustainable pipeline of talent for law firms in Wales, including through fully funded Legal Level 7 Apprenticeships.”
The Legal Needs in Wales report can be accessed here.
