Court investment needed to address decay

The Law Society of England and Wales conducted a survey that demonstrated the pressing need for significant investment in these public spaces. Solicitors reported alarming instances of unreliable technology and physical deterioration that are now contributing to a serious backlog of court cases.

As many as 63% of solicitors noted that they had faced delays in hearing their cases due to the inadequate condition of the courts within the last year. Many cases have been adjourned or moved online, with clients and victims left in precarious situations. “A vital public service is being left to stagnate, compounding the harm caused by these delays,” a summary of the report emphasised. The impact of these inefficiencies leaves individuals at risk of losing jobs and facing housing insecurities as they await justice.

Technology also appears to be failing those in the legal system, with 20% of respondents stating that court technology is "not at all" fit for purpose. Survey participants highlighted problems including poor-quality remote hearings, software glitches, and the lack of essential facilities like functioning plug sockets. Accessibility remains a critical concern, especially for solicitors with disabilities, 45% of whom found the court infrastructure insufficient compared to just 25% of those without disabilities.