Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner of Watkins Solicitors in Bristol and member of the LAPG Board and Advisory Committee, appeared on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Bristol to raise urgent concerns about the impact of the Legal Aid Agency cyberattack on vulnerable families and individuals seeking legal support.

The cyber incident on 23 April 2025 led to the shutdown of the Legal Aid Agency’s online systems, leaving law firms temporarily unable to apply for legal aid or claim for completed work. As a result, families in crisis, particularly those affected by domestic abuse, child protection issues, or children out of school due to unresolved education needs, are now facing new delays and uncertainty when trying to access vital legal services.

Beverley explained:

“This cyberattack has had a devastating effect on the sector, particularly on the cash flow of legal aid providers. Salaries and overheads still have to be paid, and no legal aid firm has reserves. That’s the problem. The attack comes on top of decades of underinvestment in legal aid. Rates have not increased for over 30 years, meaning this work is often done at below minimum wage.”

Watkins Solicitors carries out approximately 50% of its work through legal aid, with particular expertise in family law, education, and public law. The firm supports parents, carers, and children in some of the most complex and time-sensitive legal matters, including domestic abuse cases, care proceedings, and judicial reviews involving children out of school.

Under the current restrictions, many clients cannot progress with legal aid applications because the necessary systems are offline.

“We deal with cases where children are at risk, where survivors of abuse need protection, and where urgent decisions about a child’s education or care must be made,” Beverley said. “We are acting on behalf of children and we cannot progress the cases, or in some situations, we are taking a risk on whether we will be paid at the end. But we believe the client’s need is too great to delay.”

Despite these challenges, Watkins Solicitors continues to act on behalf of vulnerable clients and is actively working with professional bodies to ensure the government restores functionality and support for legal aid services as soon as possible.

“Our commitment to our clients remains unchanged,” Beverley added. “But there is no doubt that the system needs urgent investment, not only in technology, but in the long-term sustainability of legal aid itself.”

Watch the full interview here
BBC Radio 4: https://youtu.be/3opTJRHklR0?si=lLAsyq1Qfk28Ll5m

BBC Radio Bristol: https://youtu.be/Hkk2fVs7aRw 

For media enquiries, please contact: Monique Burroughes mburroughes@watkinssolicitors.co.uk