Access To Justice: For The Few But Not For You

Access to justice in England and Wales is in tatters. Many of us do not consider or think of the importance of a well-oiled system and imperative access to justice for all, until we are faced with dealing with a justice system that has been deeply underfunded and tooled for the few.

Over the last few years we have witnessed legal aid being cut to the bone to the extent that it is now non-existent for all practical purposes except for a very few narrow areas of law with strict means testing that excludes many individuals. This reduction in access to justice has come into the foray in recent years with the numerous crises of the 2020s. For example, the ongoing wars causing migration influxes are resulting in much needed urgent immigration representation and the cost of living crisis is causing all manner of legal issues for individuals who need legal assistance – from denial of benefits claims to housing issues and private disputes. In the face of increased demand,