Access to Justice/Sources of Legal Advice
Access to Justice
governed by 🏴 Access to Justice Act
in England and Wales, in theory everyone should have access to justice, both through the legal system being fair AND being able to afford to use the system
in reality, access to justice is not always achieved
if a person cannot make use of the legal system, or get the help they require they are being 'denied access to justice'
not able to get case to courts, generally due to money
typically, people are denied this access due to cost, in many cases the claimant pays more than they will win. In criminal cases, D must be able to defend their liberty properly through a lawyer
there are free sources of legal advice to help these people
Sources of Legal Advice
many advice schemes are available to people who wish to make use of the legal system
both online, through appointment or via telephone
there are also many charities who can offer advice, as well as Trade Unions for workers
these are cheaper than a lawyer
they help members with legal problems, work-related matters in particular
Help Lines
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB)
Law Centres
Trade Unions
Schemes run by Lawyers
Civil Legal Advice phone-line
which help with matters such as:
a government funded advice service
debt
housing
domestic abuse
special educational needs
discrimination
family mediation/care work
receive around 160,000 calls a year
2,500 locations, mostly in towns
free advice to anyone who makes an appointment on issues such as:
debt
benefit entitlement
consumer issues
housing problems
employment issues
welfare issues
around 50% of work is done though face-to-face appointment
they help around 2.5 million people each year
some solicitors offer discounted/free consultations (e.g. first free 30 min interview)
can provide info on which local solicitors do legal aid work or give cheap/free initial interviews
many have arrangements under which solicitors may attend the Bureaux once a week/fortnight to give advice on legal matters
free non-means tested legal services which aim to provide free advice, and sometimes representation in areas of law where there are few solicitors
typically take on disadvantaged clients, and currently around 45 in operation
non-means = don't care how much you earn
they generally struggle to get funding due to cuts by Local Authority budges
free legal advice for work-related problems, sometimes other issues too (e.g. personal injury)
e.g. Unite, NUT, RMT
even when the injury is not work-related
Unite is the biggest Trade Union in the country
gives its members free legal advice and free representation for any personal injury case
to find which solicitors do this you must go to the CAB who have the relevant info
Bar Pro Bono Unit
voluntary barristers give free advice and representation to those who cannot afford + do not qualify for legal aid
all areas of law covered
Criminal cases - Advice
anyone arrested and held at the station is entitled to free legal afvice
a duty solicitor is available 24 hours a day
government funded legal advice
usually around 650,000 clients a year
may be telephone or face-to-face