On Thursday 15 January 2026, Liverpool Law Society held its first meeting of the year with the Liverpool City Region Councillors. The purpose of these biannual sessions is to discuss local issues and developments which impact the region and its residents.
President, Sarah Mansfield, chaired on behalf of LLS, and there was good representation from the region with seven Councillors (or representatives on their behalf) attending.
Chair of the Access to Justice Committee, Ian Townley, spoke of how difficult 2025 had been for legal aid providers, most notably arising from the Legal Aid Agency data breach in May, and how the impact of that incident is still being felt. He updated the Councillors of the Parliamentary Questions raised by Marie Rimmer MP (following the Society’s meeting with MPs in October 2025) and the response that had since been received (see page https://www.liverpoollawsociety.org.uk/news/response-received-to-parliamentary-questions/)
Further, Ian raised that housing remains a particular issue for the region. There are just six legal aid solicitors (and an even smaller number of paralegals) practicing in the discipline in an area of more than a million people, leaving many unable to secure representation. Ian spoke of the impact of the housing crisis, and the cost-saving impact that early legal advice can have. Cllr Jane Corbett (Liverpool) expressed how pleased she was that the Society was alive to this, and it was resolved that the Society and Councillors will collaborate, to include a separate meeting, with a view to developing a plan for the future.
Chair of the Non-Contentious Business Committee, Pamela Chesterman, raised the ongoing impact of Land Registry delays and inconsistency of approach in responding to applications. Pamela emphasised the wide reach of the problem – one example being planning, where information online used by the Council cannot be relied upon. A number of the Councillors concurred that the impact on businesses and individuals can be significant. Cllr Geoff Pearl (St Helens) spoke of a constituent who had recently lost a property purchase due to the delays. Jan Bakewell (St Helens) reported that Estate Agents had raised similar concerns. Those present discussed the importance of a strong bank of examples to demonstrate the problems faced.
Chair of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Jewels Chamberlain, had a number of questions for the Councillors, which I presented in her absence. These related to future plans for the region, to include budgets, timetables and interaction with ESG initiatives. Cllr Corbett invited these in writing for a formal response.
I provided a brief update which focussed on the Law Society’s Head of Justice’s evidence at the recent Justice Select Committee’s new inquiry into Access to Justice on 06 January 2026. I also spoke of the progress of the Sentencing Bill which has now entered its Report Stage in the House of Lords, and of the recent House of Commons debate on the widely publicised proposal to abolish Jury trials.
We concluded by inviting any issues that the Councillors and their representatives wished to raise. Cllr Corbett raised the importance of s1 of the Equality Act, and the outstanding guidance relating to that legislation. It was resolved that the Society would address this via questions to MPs in due course.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 16 July 2026. Suggestions for agenda items from the Society’s members are welcomed ahead of that date.
Laura Spence
Parliamentary Liaison Officer