Steve Hynes is a freelance writer and campaigner on access to justice and legal aid. He was the director of the charity Legal Action Group (LAG) from 2008 to March 2019. Prior to joining LAG Steve was the Director of the Law Centres Federation, the national organisation representing law centres in England and Wales. He is the author of Austerity Justice, (https://www.lag.org.uk/shop/products/202116/austerity-justice) published by LAG. This book describes the development of civil legal advice services in England and Wales, as well as the background to what became the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act (2012). He is also co-author of The Justice Gap, a book on the legal aid system and access to justice. Steve founded the Low Commission which was established in October 2012. The Commission was chaired by Lord Colin Low of Dalston and published its report on access to advice and legal support in January 2014. Two follow-up reports were also published by the Commission in conjunction with LAG. Currently Steve continues to write on access to justice issues for publications including Legal Action magazine and the New Law Journal.
LOCAL RESEARCHERS - ENGLAND AND WALES
