Even though legal aid is available for people seeking asylum, there is uneven access to advice across Britain.

Based on empirical research, this book offers fresh thinking on what has gone wrong in the legal aid market. It presents a rare picture of the barristers, solicitors and caseworkers practising immigration law in charities and private firms. In doing so, this book examines supply and demand and illuminates what constitutes high-quality legal aid work/provision, subsequent conflicts with financial rationality and how practitioners resolve these issues.

Challenging existing legal aid policy, this book presents innovative insights to ensure public service markets around the globe function well for all those involved.

“…[An] excellent study of the economics of modern day legal aid lawyering.” Free Movement
“In general, the book is an extremely important contribution, written by an insider who is both well-informed and conceptually innovative. It will make engaging reading for the non-specialist and should be required reading for relevant policy makers.” Frontiers of Socio-Legal Studies
“Jo Wilding has written an essential book for anyone looking to understand access to justice around immigration and asylum. As authoritative as it is accessible, this book will show people the reality of legal aid.” Daniel Newman, Cardiff University
“Drawing on interesting (and extremely distressing) examples, Wilding exposes a dysfunctional legal aid system which damages the most vulnerable in society and offers practical suggestions for reform. This book will be of great value to anyone interested in social justice.” Hilary Sommerlad, University of Leeds

Jo Wilding is an ESRC postdoctoral fellow in the School of Applied Social Science at the University of Brighton.