Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee

About the Committee

The Committee seeks to gather information from around the world on the barriers to access to justice in each jurisdiction and any ways in which these barriers are overcome, with particular emphasis on statutory schemes such as legal aid.

The Committee will publicise its findings through reports and events with a view to sharing and spreading good practice. The Committee recognises that many of those who will most benefit from its work will be unable to attend international events and so will provide all information through its website.

The Committee will serve as a central coordinating point within the IBA, where all matters relating to access to justice and legal aid (given the fact that, this is a topic that overlaps with diverse other Committees of the Association) will be handled.

The Committee will work with other committees and parts of the Association in developing joint activities and projects on access to justice and legal aid.

One of the great strengths of the IBA is its global reach, and this is something that we feel will help us in the ambitious task we have set ourselves; sharing and spreading good practice on access to justice around the world. Expectations, definitions and resources vary wildly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but the concept of justice exists everywhere. We believe that the differing approaches to seeking access to justice could provide a valuable source of ideas and information for jurisdictions struggling to maintain or improve access to justice in times of austerity.