The Impact of the Current Economy on Access to Justice

Abstract

This Article examines the impediments to access to justice individuals face in the current economic climate due to issues of access to legal assistance. Part II will discuss the framework within which civil legal assistance is provided and the impact that the economic downturn has had on it. Part III will discuss the segment of the population forced to look to government programs for assistance in the wake of reduced employment opportunities and the obstacles they face in accessing these programs. Part IV will look at the changed reality of the demands of providing pro bono assistance to these clients and the need for comprehensive assistance and its inhibiting effect on access to justice.

Keywords: poverty, access to justice, rights of low income people, economy

JEL Classification: K1, K10, K19, K30, K39, D6, H80