Renewing Our Commitment to Legal Aid |
 |
An introduction to this discussion paper
Paper written by Eugene Kung, Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Every day, people in BC are denied equal access to justice because of inadequacies in the legal aid system. Unresolved legal problems have serious consequences in people’s lives. They affect the proper functioning of the justice system and increase the costs to other social service systems. Inadequate access to publicly-funded legal services has the greatest impact on the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and powerless members of our communities.
This short discussion paper is intended to provide some context in order to facilitate a full and informed dialogue. Key questions to consider include:
- What is the function of legal aid?
- Who does inadequate legal aid hurt and how?
- What is the impact on the justice system?
- What are the health and social welfare costs of inadequate legal aid?
- What are the core services required in different areas of law (family, immigration and refugee, poverty, criminal)?
- What lessons can be learned from positive developments in other jurisdictions?
- What is the best mix of legal aid, pro bono law and public legal information to ensure true access to justice?
|
