Developing a digital legal knowledge hub for social welfare law

This project will digitise the Law and Practice section of Legal Action Group’s magazine, Legal Action, and develop a free to access online hub of case law and materials on all areas of social welfare law.

Why this project is important

Law and Practice is recognised as a unique and important resource for the social justice sector. It provides updates on case law and developments in every area of law. Reporting is normally restricted to the upper courts, whereas Law and Practice highlights all key cases, ensuring that developments reach frontline advisers.

Cuts to legal aid, recruitment challenges in the legal sector, and the wider impacts of austerity and a cost-of-living crisis have led to people turning to civil society organizations for help. However, they do not have the legal training or funding to buy Legal Action Group’s products. Legal aid lawyers and legal advice charities also struggle afford crucial materials and training.

The Legal Action Group already works with legal and advice and community and campaigning organisations. Partnering with the British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) has allowed the Legal Action Group to produce free on-line materials that enable communities to use the law for the social change they want to see.

How it will make a difference

The project team aim to transform the interaction between law makers, campaigners, and citizens through the creation of a legal hub. Multiple possible outcomes for the legal and wider social welfare sector have been identified:

• Providing a forum for practitioners and authors to exchange information and ideas.
• Encouraging and involving the next generation of legal aid and social justice lawyers.
• Training lawyers, advisers, and civil society organizations to recognize the use of the law as a tool to secure social change.
• Improving people’s access legal information, thereby helping them to address and resolve their issues.
• Raising awareness of access to justice issues on behalf of those who could otherwise be denied access.