New Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board

New Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board
Ruth Evans has been appointed as the new Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board.
The Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) provides independent leadership and strategic direction to the Board.
The Chair advises the Lord Chancellor on the operation and future development of criminal legal aid schemes, ensuring they are structured to support a high-performing justice system. The role involves steering discussions on market sustainability, data needs, and the impact of policy changes, as well as overseeing reports, recommendations and representing the Board externally.
Ruth Evans has been appointed the second chair of CLAAB and succeeds HH Deborah Taylor, who led the Board from 2023 to 2026. Ruth’s tenure will begin on 1 September and run for three years.
Biography
Ruth Evans has 40 years’ experience championing the public and consumer interest.
She is the Founding Chair of Stop Scams UK. Throughout her career, she has chaired a range of public interest bodies, including the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the Bar Standards Board and the Authority for Television on Demand. Ruth has also held posts as a non-Executive Director within the National Audit Office, the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Serious Fraud Office.
We welcome the wealth of experience that Ruth brings to the role and look forward to the CLAAB continuing its important work to support and improve criminal legal aid.
Notes
The CLAAB was first established in October 2022 and meets quarterly. The membership currently includes representatives from the Bar Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, Criminal Bar Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Young Barrister Committee, Crown Prosecution Service, the Legal Aid Agency and Ministry of Justice officials.