Ensuring access to justice for all is essential for a functioning democracy
24 May
If the government is serious about levelling up, it must invest in key local services, of which the courts are an integral component.
Access to justice is a term broadly defined, often spoken about, and frequently misunderstood. In short, it refers to the legal mechanisms that protect our fundamental rights, offering us a means of redress when they are breached and a system for resolving disputes between individuals and the state.
Much of the debate on access to justice focuses on money. As seen by 19th century jurist Sir James Mathew’s famous quip that “justice is open to all – like the Ritz Hotel,” there’s nothing new about this recurrent concern, but changes to the legal aid system have certainly brought into sharp focus the fear that those lacking financial means are at a disadvantage when dealing with the law.