Migration 
Edition 2 of the Bevan Foundation’s new series of reports highlights the barriers that migrants face when seeking justice in Wales
Part 2: Experiences of Justice series – Barriers to Access (6 parts)
In this second edition of our six-part series reporting on our study of lived experiences at the heart of the immigration legal aid crisis, we look in detail at the barriers that people in Wales face when trying to access legal services for immigration and asylum cases.
In this edition, we look at the extent to which knowledge of services, lack of availability, lack of response, communication issues, cost, and travel, impact people’s ability to find legal help. The report explores the methods that people use to find immigration advice, the length of time that they take to find an available legal service, and their experiences of the journey to finding a representative. Some of the suggestions for change made by people interviewed are included at the end of the report.
Our study found that:
- 61% of international students and nearly half of all project participants had difficulties finding legal help. Those who sought help and advice more recently had often found the search more difficult.
- Half of the people we spoke to who were seeking asylum had found communication to be a barrier when trying to find a legal representative.
- People frequently received no response from legal services they approached, or found them to be closed to new cases.
- Many people had paid very high fees for immigration advice and representation, and this included asylum seekers eligible for legal aid.
The following four editions in this series will be published throughout October and November. These will look at the themes: Barriers to Access, Client Care, Rights, Interpreters, and Impacts. The full series is listed below. Links will be added as editions are published.
We have supported our Experts by Experience working group to review the research findings and develop their own recommendations for improving access to justice for people seeking sanctuary in Wales. Their report is published as Appendix A to this report.
We will hold a webinar to share the study’s findings on Wednesday 27th November 2024 at 13:00 – 13:45.
Other editions in this series:
| Edition | Title |
| Part 1 | Summary Report |
| Part 2 (this edition) | Barriers to Access |
| Part 3 | Client Care |
| Part 4 | Rights |
| Part 5 | Interpreters |
| Part 6 | Impacts |
| APPENDIX A | Recommendations of the Experts by Experience Working Group |
| APPENDIX B | Project Participants |
