Session details

This session will explore the role of bar associations to improve access to justice. Speakers from across the world will share their experience of their bar associations to improve access to justice in and outside their countries. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) has endeavoured to improve access to justice. For example, the JFBA has financially supported the establishment of law offices in areas suffering from a shortage of attorneys. The JFBA also provides funds for certain cases, including cases brought by foreign nationals without resident status, which have not been covered by publicly funded legal aid. Recently, the JFBA has started to introduce an appropriate attorney of a bar association to any insured person who has purchased legal expenses insurance from an insurance company under an agreement with the JFBA. The JFBA has also worked to improve access to justice outside Japan. For example, the JFBA has organised the Access to Justice Conference in Asia four times in the past: the most recent was in Cambodia.