Report of the Access to Legal Services Working Group

The National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters was established to increase the public’s accessibility to the civil justice system. This Action Committee established working groups to identify how access can be achieved, tools to help Canadians deal with their civil legal needs effectively, and system changes to increase the public’s access to justice. This report provides an overview of the conclusions and recommendations of the Access to Legal Services Working Group. It discusses web-based and telephone response and referral to services, changes to current legal service delivery, pro bono and publicly funded services, access to legal help in rural and remote communities, and legal training. The recommendations in this report are focused on maximizing people’s access to legal help and services by changing the way services are currently delivered. This report identifies possible solutions that require little financial investment but will increase access to justice for people with legal problems.