Steve Hynes is leaving LAG at the end of February 2019 after 11 years as its director. Carol Storer, the former director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG), has been appointed as interim director.

While at LAG, Steve played a leading role in campaigning against the cuts introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), working with colleagues across the sector to establish the campaign group Justice for All. He also founded the Low Commission on the Future of Advice and Legal Support and has been a high-profile commentator on legal aid and access to justice policy. His publications have included the book, Austerity justice, published by LAG. Over the past two years he has led the development of digital products for LAG including the employment law program, MyPay. He is leaving LAG to pursue a career as a freelance consultant and writer.

Storer left LAPG last year after 10 years as the director of the organisation that represents legal aid lawyers and campaigns for a fair, comprehensive and accessible legal aid scheme. Before that, she was a practising solicitor who worked in a law centre, private practice and for the housing charity, Shelter. In 2014, she was made an OBE for her services to legal aid.

Commenting on his departure, Hynes said: ‘It’s been an enjoyable and challenging time at LAG. I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with such able and committed staff, board members and authors, but LASPO continues to be the greatest threat to everything we stand for. I know LAG will continue to expose the damage it has inflicted and to campaign for greater access to justice.’

Chairperson of LAG, Laura Janes, said: ‘What Steve does not know about access to justice is not worth knowing. The charity has been incredibly fortunate to have benefitted from his tremendous expertise for over a decade, during a time of unprecedented attacks on legal aid in England and Wales. LAG is incredibly grateful for his leadership, which has included keeping a firm and principled stance on access to justice, while at the same time bringing our publications into the 21st century by overseeing the digitisation programme. While he will be greatly missed, we are delighted to welcome Carol Storer as interim director.’