The legal aid system is one of the cornerstones of the post-war Welfare State, and since its creation nearly 60 years ago, it has enabled millions of people to access legal advice, support and representation; many of whom would otherwise have been denied access to justice because they could not have afforded to pay. However, the expectations and pressures faced by the legal aid system today are very different to those when it was created, and this document sets out the Government's proposals to reform the system to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness in contributing to the fight against social exclusion. These proposals follow on from three other documents: i) the Government's long-term strategy for legal aid 'A fairer deal for legal aid' published in July 2005 (Cm 6591, ISBN 0101659121); ii) the recommendations of the independent review of legal aid procurement undertaken by Lord Carter of Coles (details are available at www.legalaidprocurementreview.gov.uk/publications.htm) published in July 2006; and iii) a consultation paper jointly issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Legal Services Commission (details available at www.dca.gov.uk/consult/legal-aidsf/sustainable-future.htm) published in July 2006.