Over the last decade, the curtailment of funding for justice systems around the world has had serious consequences for the administration of justice. Many jurisdictions have witnessed a degrading in the courts estate; administrative systems have struggled to cope with demand; recruitment and retention within many areas of the justice system is adversely affected due to funding concerns; and publicly funded legal systems have been subject to repercussive cuts. 

These effects compromise access to justice and diminish respect for the justice system as a whole. Rather than justice being seen as a valuable commodity worthy of investment, it is too often seen as an unwelcome cost which should be subject to imposed decline. This has concerning repercussions for both the state and its citizens, creating real impediments to the rule of law and meaningful access to justice. 

The scope of legal aid systems across the world varies. As legal aid is a crucial vehicle by which the fundamental protection of human rights may be guaranteed, and the availability of legal aid is inextricably linked to access to justice, it is the responsibility of governments to guarantee that legal aid systems ensure that this protection is practical and effective, including the provision of adequate funding. This session will explore, through a number of case studies, the consequences of failing to invest in a country’s justice system and the response of the legal profession in safeguarding access to justice and the rule of law.