This paper explores legal need and legal advice in England and Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses the lens of vulnerability theory to examine the ways in which this crisis exposed pre-existing fragilities between the state and its relationship with the advice sector, and the individuals who experience social welfare problems. The paper commences by exploring Fineman’s vulnerability thesis and its application to those experiencing social welfare-related issues, as well as the vulnerability of the systems operating to give advice. The paper then considers the specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on needs, and the ability of the sector to meet these needs. Drawing on policy documents, reports and three case studies from law centres in England and Wales, it discusses the concept of legal need and the realities being experienced. These case studies assist us in being able to critically consider the topics of vulnerability, changing needs and the role that technology is, and can play during the pandemic and beyond. Lastly, the paper points to the need for a critical consideration of the sustainability and format of legal advice in addressing legal need in the post-COVID-19 landscape.

本文探讨了 COVID-19 大流行期间英格兰和威尔士的法律需求和法律建议。它使用脆弱性理论的视角来研究这场危机如何暴露国家及其与咨询部门的关系以及遇到社会福利问题的个人之间预先存在的脆弱性。本文首先探讨了 Fineman 的脆弱性论点及其对那些遇到社会福利相关问题的人的应用，以及提供建议的系统的脆弱性。然后，本文考虑了 COVID-19 大流行的具体背景和对需求的影响，以及该行业满足这些需求的能力。借鉴英格兰和威尔士法律中心的政策文件、报告和三个案例研究，它讨论了法律需要的概念和正在经历的现实。这些案例研究帮助我们能够批判性地考虑脆弱性、不断变化的需求以及技术在大流行期间及之后所扮演的角色以及可以发挥的作用等主题。最后，本文指出，在解决 COVID-19 后环境中的法律需求时，需要认真考虑法律建议的可持续性和格式。