2023–25 Legal Aid Agency Data Breach

In spring 2025 the Legal Aid Agency confirmed hackers downloaded personal data for anyone who applied for legal aid between 2007 and 16 May 2025. Compromised details may include names, addresses, National Insurance numbers, criminal history and financial information.

The Ministry of Justice admitted the attack on 19 May 2025 after first detecting it on 23 April.

If you applied for legal aid in that period you should:

• Change any passwords reused elsewhere.

• Watch for phishing emails or calls quoting legal-aid details.

• Consider credit-file monitoring.

• Speak to a data-breach solicitor about compensation (no single firm recommended)

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Further coverage:

• MoJ press release (GOV.UK)

• ITV News report

• Guardian article