Access to Justice"Equal Justice Under Law" is one of America's most proudly proclaimed and widely violated legal principles. But it comes nowhere close to describing the legal system in practice. Millions of Americans lack any access to justice, let alone equal access. Worse, the increasing centrality of law in American life and its growing complexity has made access to legal assistance critical for all citizens. Yet according to most estimates about four-fifths of the legal needs of the poor, and two- to three-fifths of the needs of middle-income individuals remain unmet. This book reveals the inequities of legal assistance in America, from the lack of access to educational services and health benefits to gross injustices in the criminal defense system. It proposes a specific agenda for change, offering tangible reforms for coordinating comprehensive systems for the delivery of legal services, maximizing individual's opportunities to represent themselves, and making effective legal services more affordable for all Americans who need them. |
Contents
3 | |
Too Much Law for Those Who Can Afford It Too Little for Everyone Else | 24 |
Legal Rights and Social Wrongs | 47 |
4 Access to What? Law without Lawyers and New Models of Legal Assistance | 79 |
The Legal Needs of LowIncome Communities | 103 |
Class Injustice in Criminal Justice | 122 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
access to justice activities adequate afford American American Bar appointed attorneys awards Bar Association bono causes chapter civil claims clients concerns constitutional consumers contributions costs counsel courts criminal critics death decision defendants develop effective efforts Equal Ethics example expenses experience federal fees firms forms funding graduates greater groups half increase indigent individuals involving Journal judges Justice lack Law Journal Law Review law school lawyers legal aid legal assistance Legal Services less limited litigation major malpractice matters necessary nonlawyers noted offer offices opportunities organizations participation percent policies political poor poverty practice Press pro bono problems profession professional programs protection public interest reason reform Report representation require response restrictions result Rhode rules serve social standards strategies structure substantial suggests survey tion tort trial University York