Introducing the Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme
The Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme (LASS) is the next phase of support for the advice sector from The London Legal Support Trust, designed for specialist free legal advice organisations providing support in London and the South East.
LASS retains the core strengths of COEx — long‑term thinking, trust‑based relationships and unrestricted funding — while introducing a clearer, phased and adaptable framework for the future. The scheme combines unrestricted funding with tailored support to help organisations strengthen their long‑term sustainability.
Through LASS, LLST will be able to:
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- Welcome small cohorts of new partners through regular main grants rounds – offering grants of £75k spread over 5 years alongside tailored consultancy support
- Provide access to ongoing support for all our existing COEx organisations, and any new partners, through a LASS Alumni Network which will include:
Tailored organisational consultancy and development support
Training, learning and peer‑support opportunities
Access to unrestricted funding through our Alumni funding pot
Who can apply?
This funding round is focused on smaller, locally rooted organisations delivering free specialist legal advice in areas where LLST does not currently have a funded partner.
Applicant organisations must:
- Be a registered, exempt or excepted charity, CIO or CIC (limited by guarantee)
- Deliver free specialist legal advice as their primary purpose.
- Have an annual income between £50k and £1m.
- Have been delivering free specialist legal advice and/or representation for at
least one year. - Hold a recognised quality mark (e.g. Lexcel, AQS) or be regulated by a relevant professional body (e.g. IAA, Law Society, BSB) — or be actively working towards this.
- Be based in, and deliver the majority of their services to residents in one or more
of the following counties: Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) or Surrey.
We particularly welcome applications from organisations that:
- Deliver advice locally rather than nationally
- Have limited access to unrestricted or core funding
- Work with marginalised or underserved communities
Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria and application guidance before starting an application. Please find it here.
How to apply
- Read the eligibility criteria and application guidance.
- Review the application form.
- Complete all required sections of the application.
- Submit your application before Sunday 1 November 2026.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Is there a deadline?
- Yes, the application deadline is: Sunday 1 November 2026
- Decisions communicated to applicants by mid-December 2026
- Payments made and support starts: January 2027
Further information and support:
- Link to funder’s website
- If you have questions about LASS, the application process, or require information in an alternative format, please contact us: grants@llst.org.uk
- If you would like further support from RVA with submitting a funding application or any support with governance required for your group to get ready for this funding, please email advice@rva.org.uk or telephone 0118 937 2273 for free and independent support and advice.