British public: Lawyers should come free of charge at least once

Just two in five people believe the UK's justice system works well for its citizens, according to the results of a new Citizens Advice report.

Polling results in Responsive justice: How citizens experience the justice system, showed that voters lack confidence in the legal system and have fears over access to justice.

The survey found that the public have real concerns over the amount of support and advice available to them. Almost three-quarters of respondents agreed that trying to solve their problems might not be worth the financial and emotional cost.

In addition, one in five people who have been involved in the court process said they came out with a worse opinion of it than when they started.

Further, just 48 per cent of respondents believed that if they had to go to court, their outcome would be fair.

Around one in seven respondents thought it unlikely they would be treated with dignity and respect; would be heard; or would understand the process and language if they had to go to court.

The report also cited that 68 per cent of people think there should be better access to the courts, and the same number think only the wealthy can afford to pursue justice.

Responding to the poll, chairman-elect of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said the idea that people who use the courts are being subsidised by the taxpayer was completely wrong.

'It is because citizens have access to justice that big businesses pay their small firm suppliers in good time, that parents can get the right pay and leave from their employers, and that elderly people get the care to which they are entitled.

'When people use the courts and other legal avenues to enforce the law, it helps to ensure that we all play by the rules. Without access to justice, everyone will suffer because the rules will cease to matter.'

According to polling, only 14 per cent of those surveyed thought they could manage if they had to represent themselves in court. When asked what support people would find most useful, 'by far the most popular choice was that everybody, regardless of their income, should be able to see a lawyer without cost at least once', said the report.

Doerries QC remarked that the report would make uncomfortable reading for those holding the justice budget's purse strings.

'It shows that voters are not satisfied with our system of justice or their ability to access it when in need,' she said. 'If further cuts are planned for the Autumn Statement, the question will be: how do we make sure access to justice is not restricted even further?'

Citizens Advice opined that, as a public service, the justice system needed to provide support, information, and advice to help people to understand their options and access resolution. The charity also called for greater promotion of alternatives to the courts and in making them easier to access.

In the last year, the charity helped clients with over 200,000 legal issues including 46,000 county and High Court proceedings; 32,000 problems with solicitors and barristers; and 16,000 magistrates' court proceedings.

In the last six months, Citizens Advice's online pages on legal issues were viewed almost 2.4 million times.

John van der Luit-Drummond is deputy editor for Solicitors Journal
john.vanderluit@solicitorsjournal.co.uk | @JvdLD