To improve access to justice, we need innovative platforms & collaborative working, writes Sue Prince
- Digital technology has the potential to equalise access to justice.
- The quality and reliability of information are key, and various frameworks are being considered to improve public confidence in digital tools.
The access to justice crisis is well documented. Many people cannot afford legal services and do not know where to go for help; they find the legal system complex and confusing. Backlogs, cuts to services, and a cost-of-living crisis affecting employment, housing and debt have led to a huge gap in servicing legal need and an inability to meet demand.
Innovative approaches using digital technology now have the potential to begin to equalise access to information and advice. Websites such as Divorce Online, Access Social Care, Advice Now, and platforms such as the Official Injury Portal, are increasingly offering help and support for people with legal issues.
Optimistically, it could be envisaged that in the
