Access to Justice

by Deborah L. Rhode

"Equal Justice Under Law" is one of America's most proudly proclaimed and widely violated legal principles. But it comes nowhere close to describing the legal system in practice. Millions of Americans lack any access to justice, let alone equal access. Worse, the increasing centrality of law in American life and its growing complexity has made access to legal assistance critical for all citizens. Yet according to most estimates about four-fifths of the legal needs of the poor, and two- to three-fifths of the needs of middle-income individuals remain unmet. This book reveals the inequities of legal assistance in America, from the lack of access to educational services and health benefits to gross injustices in the criminal defense system. It proposes a specific agenda for change, offering tangible reforms for coordinating comprehensive systems for the delivery of legal services, maximizing individual's opportunities to represent themselves, and making effective legal services more
affordable for all Americans who need them.

Genres: Law, Nonfiction

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dissertation read - it is a necessary read for anyone interested in access to justice because Rhode takes on the idealized principle of equal justice under the law and complicates it by considering the structural conditions of the legal system from the legal profession and legal education to the judiciary and how each layer can perpetuate or limit access to justice in America. While not the juiciest read about the American legal system, it is a helpful reference and guide to these issues.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer does mention thinks that are available and things that need to be addressed.