ARAG and The Purpose Coalition launch Insuring Justice at House of Commons

ARAG welcomed MPs, insurers, brokers, academics, law firms and other legal sector organisations at the House of Commons yesterday (Monday, June 8) for the launch of Insuring Justice, a new report highlighting the role that legal protection plays in extending access to justice and reducing barriers to opportunity.

Delivered at a time when backlogs in civil courts and tribunals have reached a crisis point, The Purpose Coalition’s impact report details the role that the legal expenses insurance sector plays in providing early legal advice; enabling people and small businesses to assert their rights; and reducing pressure on already overstretched public services.

More than 10 million households and millions of businesses in the UK have some form of legal expenses policy that will typically give them access to advice over the phone on almost any legal issue and protection from the costs of some of the most common legal disputes.

As well as showcasing ARAG’s own initiatives in breaking down barriers to social mobility, both within the company and more broadly, the Insuring Justice report provides insight into the social and economic impact that earlier intervention already has for employers, communities, local government and the wider justice system.

Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of The Purpose Coalition, said:

“As Parliament continues to consider how best to support a fair and effective justice system, the case studies and insights in this report are both relevant and timely. They reinforce a simple but powerful idea - that access to justice should support opportunity, not limit it.”

David Haynes, CEO of ARAG, added:

“We want to do more than describe what already exists. We want to work with government, with parliamentarians and with others across the justice system to improve access to early advice and prevent problems escalating unnecessarily.”

The Insuring Justice report is available to view and share on The Purpose Coalition website.