Market engagement for legal aid inquests

In a proactive move, the Legal Aid Agency is organising a series of virtual market engagement sessions aimed at discussing the implications of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. Following the initial round of engagement that took place in November 2025, these upcoming sessions are designed to provide essential updates on the development of legal aid expansion, particularly in relation to inquests.

The agency invites organisations interested in participating to gain insights into the expansion of legal aid, which is geared towards enhancing advice and representation services. "We are interested in insights from relevant market participants on whether training provision could play a role in supporting the delivery of inquest work." This statement underscores the agency's commitment to gathering valuable feedback to shape future services.

These market engagement sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams, offering flexibility to interested participants. The scheduled meetings are set for Monday 8th June 2026 at 5:00pm, Wednesday 10th June 2026 at the same time, and a final session on Thursday 11th June 2026 at 5:00pm.

To join these virtual discussions, organisations must express their interest by emailing civil.contracts@justice.gov.uk, including key details such as the organisation's name, preferred session attendance, and the names and email addresses of all attendees. Once confirmed, an event link will be shared for seamless participation.

This initiative is particularly timely, as the Legal Aid Agency is keen to ensure that the necessary services are prepared well in advance of the Bill becoming law. By conducting market engagement in this manner, the agency aims to understand the current capacity and appetite for delivering inquest-related work, with the ultimate goal of establishing robust support systems as required.

As the process unfolds, stakeholders are encouraged to engage actively, providing insights that could significantly influence the shape and efficacy of legal aid services in the wake of new legislative changes. Ahead of the upcoming sessions, potential participants are urged to act swiftly to secure their place in these vital discussions.