Research Database

Does Community Legal Education Work? Educating English Language Students about Consumer Contracts

This Australian article presents the findings of a study that investigated the impact of a public legal education program for improving English language students’ knowledge and attitudes of the legal issues associated with buying a car. The findings demonstrate how public legal education can change participants’ attitudes and knowledge of the law.

Everyday Legal Problems and the Cost of Justice in Canada: Cost of Justice Survey Data

This report contains comprehensive data from a national random sample telephone survey of over 3,000 Canadians conducted by the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice in 2013-2014. According to the researchers, “the purpose of the study was to examine the nation’s experience with the justice system, and in particular, the kinds, methods of dealing with, and costs […]

Indigenous people and legal problem resolution

This report is one in a series of Australian reports published on the various types of barriers faced by Indigenous people facing legal problems. Using data from a previous nation-wide survey on civil legal needs, researchers found that Indigenous people are far more likely than others to have unresolved crime problems, and also the highest […]

Legal Secondary Consultation: How Legal Aid Can Support Communities and Expand Access to Justice

This report describes an innovative pilot project that took place at 3 community legal clinics in southwestern Ontario to help connect community workers and their clients more effectively to legal advice and referrals. The project work involves making a dedicated legal service professional available to provide one-on-one advice to community service providers. This in turn […]

Measuring Online Legal Resources: A Framework Inspired by the Drake Equation

This report explores an evaluation framework to try to assess whether online legal aid tools and resources make a different in addressing gaps in access to justice. The researchers used the “Drake Equation”, originally created in 1951 to list the factors that scientists should consider when determining whether there was extraterrestrial life. Through a series […]

Partners in care: the benefits of community lawyers working in a hospital setting

This report details the findings from the evaluation of an Australian community legal clinic’s health and justice partnership project. The aim of the evaluation was to detail the extent to which the project is operating as intended, and to assess the impact of the health and justice partnership on the patients and the health professionals […]

Preventing Digital Exclusion from Online Justice

This report addresses issues of digital exclusion in the United Kingdom context, where courts are increasingly relying on technology, including the eventual establishment of certain online courts and tribunals by 2020. This includes a plan for an “assisted digital service” that would strive to make sure that everyone can use the reformed justice system by […]

Resolving legal problems: the role of disadvantage

This report is one of a series of reports analyzing data from a nation-wide survey conducted in Australia on legal capability. Researchers found a correlation between legal problem resolution, level of disadvantage, and legal capability. Specifically, disadvantaged Australians are more likely to experience legal problems and less likely to resolve their legal problems than other […]

The Digital Divide: Access to digital technology for people in custody

This Australian report canvasses the level of technology available to people in Australia. Western Australia’s Inspector of Custodial Services views technology for inmates as an important component to eventual reintegration, as it provides enhanced opportunities for education and also improves people’s ability to stay in touch with friends and family. However, their review concludes that […]

The Law Foundation of Ontario Connecting Region: Final Evaluation Report

This report summarizes the findings of an evaluation commissioned by the Law Foundation of Ontario on three projects they funded to help build the capacity of community workers to support people with legal problems. The projects aimed to improve access to justice for people who do not speak English or French, or who live in […]