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People-Centered Justice Has Become the Norm in Access to Justice
*This blog was originally published on Slaw.ca on December 6, 2024* People-centered approaches have quickly become the norm in access to justice. By the term norm I mean essentially the same thing as the use of the term in sociology, a widely accepted expectation or rule of behaviour – a way of doing things. People-centricity
Read NowReforming the Family Justice System: An Evidence-Based Approach
Family courts are at the epicentre of Canada’s access to justice problem. Every weekday over 700 new separation-related cases commence in this country. These cases involve Canadians from all walks of life. Disputes over child custody and access and child support obligations are especially common, and they can have profound impacts on separating adults and
read nowWhy the Cost of Not Resolving Legal Problems May be Greater Than We Think
There is plenty of research evidence of the significant intangible costs of the lack of access to justice. Every legal problems study examining the issue has shown that physical health problems and stress-related illness are common consequences of experiencing legal problems. The Canadian research shows that about 23% of respondents with at least one justiciable
read nowParalegals and Access to Justice: A Case Study of Residential Tenancy Disputes in Ottawa [1]
Amidst a generally perceived crisis in access to justice, increasing emphasis is being placed on the potential of paralegals to offer affordable, efficient and effective legal assistance to people with unmet legal needs. In other words, paralegals may provide a means for re-configuring the costs of justice and thereby improving access to justice. This case
read nowLegal Aid Alberta Hosts 2013 Access to Justice Awards Gala
Each year, Legal Aid Alberta hosts the Access to Justice Awards Gala to recognize individuals nominated by their peers for their significant contribution to the community, as well as reflect on the important role each of us plays within the realm of access to justice. “Remember, the concept of access to quality justice is not simply
read nowInsights into the Cost of Evidence
How do you get credible and testable evidence without making the justice system even more unaffordable than it already is? This question was the sum of the discussion at the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice’s (CIAJ) first-ever student workshop held on October 10, 2013. The workshop titled, The Cost of Evidence, was facilitated
read nowIs “Business” a Dirty Word in Law?
I remember being told at law school (not that long ago) that lawyers were more than “mere” legal plumbers. The implication was that law was a profession (i.e. good, reputable), not a vocation (i.e. bad, dirty). And indeed, as Professor Wesley Pue has noted, there is a long history within the legal profession of praising
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