The 56-page report, The Social Value of Legal Aid, was launched on Monday in the Northern Ireland Assembly at an event which heard from Law Society president Colin Mitchell and the chair of the Assembly’s justice committee, Joanne Bunting.

Over £1 billion in gross benefits is generated by legal aid in Northern Ireland, according to the report, spread over 53,388 individuals — amounting to an average of £30,695 benefit per person.

Criminal legal aid was found to have the highest gross benefit of £12.71 per £1 invested, while civil legal aid led to £4.55 of social value per £1 invested and family legal aid led to £3.62 of social value per £1 invested.

The research, conducted by Rocket Science Consultancy, employed a social return on investment (SROI) approach to quantify the wide-reaching impacts of legal aid.

By combining extensive consultations with stakeholders and survey responses from over 340 legal professionals, the report breaks down how legal aid benefits individuals, families, and public systems, including by helping to avert issues such as homelessness, family breakdowns and unemployment.

The report also focused on legal aid services delivered between April 2021 and December 2023, uncovering 12 measurable outcomes that reflect its value. These include enhanced quality of life, reduced family conflicts, fewer criminal convictions and savings for public services such as social work and policing.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr Mitchell said: “Legal aid is not merely a publicly funded service — it is a lifeline.

“This report emphasises that legal aid is not a cost to society, but an essential investment in fairness, equality, and justice. Policymakers must act to ensure the sustainability of this vital system.”

Ms Bunting added her voice to the call for action, warning of the challenges posed by underfunding, including solicitor shortages, case backlogs and mounting strain on legal professionals.