Working for better equality: income, gender, other

Improving access to the legal profession would improve access to justice.  

If we make the legal profession more representative of society, we improve access to justice. To improve access, action by all stakeholders, including law firms, chambers, The Law Society, The Bar Council / Bar Standards Board, and the Inns of Court – is required. See recent paper on improving access to justice. 

Statistics show that:

• Inequality globally is very high and increasing with in 2016, 8 richest people having as much wealth as half of the world, 3.6 billion people (see Oxfam studies).
• Inequality presents danger for society and individuals. It was voted at the World Economic Forum 2016 as the largest global risk in the next 10 years. Inequality can also affect our genes / genetic code: see recent paper  GENES AND GINI: WHAT INEQUALITY MEANS FOR HERITABILITY. 
• Inequality in access to justice requires urgent attention. The current situation is that access to justice depends on a myriad of factors, such as wealth, background, social status. A recent paper on improving access to justice, explains difficulties faced by litigants in person in dispute resolution and court actions more specifically.

Quotes on inequality / equality

Over centuries: “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.” ― Aristotle “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary. “ ― Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971). “The love of justice in most men is simply the fear of suffering injustice” ― François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613) 

At UKLSA events:

“Without access there is no justice“ ― Mr Justice Knowles at the UKLSA’s 5th Annual National Equalities Conference. “Equality is the heart of justice”  ― the Founder of the UKLSA, Fatos Selita at the UKLSA’s 5th Annual National Equalities Conference.

Courses on law and realities of the legal profession – subsidised for UKLSA members

[cherry_spacer] A one-day course examining the law and the legal system in practice, with a particular focus on existing barriers to achieving justice; and covering organisational, structural, psychological, sociological and other factors that are relevant justice. 

A one-week course combining key knowledge about English law and procedure; English legal systems in practice; and successful navigation of the legal system to access justice.

Research projects

Access to justice  We are currently conducting research on access to justice. Realities for litigants in person  We are assessing the realities for litigants in person, and invite all litigant in person to share with us their experience in court. Please email: secretary@uklsa.co.uk What is access? Do we have access to justice if courts fees are unaffordable? Do we have access to justice if courts are not public friendly e.i. courts expecting the unrepresented to comply with complex procedures, complex bundling and complex paperwork? Do we have access to justice if chances of winning are reduced for the unrepresented, thus increasing chances of them having to pay legal costs?