Jane Harbottle appointed Legal Aid Agency Chief Executive

Jane Harbottle has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and Director of Legal Aid Casework, taking the posts on a permanent basis after serving as interim chief executive and director since July 2019.

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said:

I am pleased that Jane has been substantively appointed as Chief Executive of the Legal Aid Agency. Jane has provided excellent leadership delivering the LAA’s response to COVID-19, working closely with representative bodies and providers of legal aid.

I know that Jane will work closely with colleagues in the Ministry and partners in the sector to ensure we deliver swift access to justice for UK citizens.

LAA Chief Executive, Jane Harbottle said:

It is an honour to lead the Legal Aid Agency’s exceptional, talented and passionate teams and I am so proud to be able to continue.

The provision of legal aid matters. Every day through working collaboratively with providers we help people in need.

Jane Harbottle was appointed interim Chief Executive of the Legal Aid Agency and Director of Legal Aid Casework in July 2019.

Earlier in her career Jane conducted fraud investigations, litigation and debt recovery in the private sector. She joined the Legal Services Commission (the LAA’s predecessor organisation) as a contract manager in May 2000.