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Access to Justice: Connecting Principles to Practice

Rhode, Deborah. Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, Jan. 1, 2004

This article discusses the access to justice gap in the U.S., recognizing that ninety percent of lawyers serve ten percent of the people, and that "the United States supplies only about one lawyer for every 1400 poor or near-poor persons in the United States" (p.371). The author states that adequate access should be a social priority, low-income individuals should be able to have access to government-subsidized assistance, "individuals of moderate means should have access to affordable services and dispute resolution systems that would maximize their ability to address law-related problems without expensive representation by attorneys" and "parties should have access to an adjudicative structure that offers timely, equitable and cost-effective remedies" (p.376). The author then examines challenges, priorities, critiques and possible solutions to the lack of access for both low-income and middle class communities and individuals. Finally, she suggests that through technological innovation, collaborate initiatives, reforms and addressing the lack of political will surrounding this issue, we can make justice more accessible in the United States.

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