Does the legal profession prioritise access to justice for all, asks Dale Timson
Access to justice fundamentally underpins the rule of law and serves as a vital weapon in the armoury of those seeking to uphold their legal rights. Its importance can be seen from legislation such as the Legal Services Act 2007 which introduced a regulatory objective of “improving access to justice”. As such, it is the duty of the profession to uphold it.
Pro bono
Against the backdrop of cuts in legal aid and local authority spending on legal advice, the profession attempts to facilitate access to justice; most notably through pro bono work which assists many individuals who would, without it, ultimately, be deprived of access to justice. Organisations such as the Free Representation Unit, the Bar Pro Bono Unit, Law Centres and university legal advice clinics, enable lawyers to carry out a vast amount of pro bono work which goes a long way in facilitating access to justice. In addition to this, the passion of the profession can be evidenced by numerous petitions, protests, and campaigns in opposition
