LEGL2110 Access to Justice: Policy and Reform

2017

4.5

1 x 1-hour lecture weekly
1 x 2-hour seminar fortnightly

9 units of any first level topics

LEGL2004 has been successfully completed

This topic will introduce students to the debate over 'access to justice'. Reforms prompted by the access to justice movement will be described and analysed using Australian and international case studies, including mechanisms to improve access to justice generally, and also responses to the needs of particular groups in society.

The case studies will include: alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation; community based legal services; the experience of rural communities in accessing justice; the problems of various demographic groups such as women, the young, the old and people from non-English speaking backgrounds. A visit to court is required in this topic.

This topic aims to:

• engage with the critical debates regarding access to justice

• provide students with the knowledge and evidence required to critically assess the impact of the 'access to justice impulse' in reforming aspects of justice systems in different societies

• equip students to evaluate the reforms in Australia and other societies using empirical and other relevant research materials

• encourage students to consider and assess alternatives to these recent reforms

It is expected that, upon the successful completion of the topic students will:

• be able to identify the concept of access to justice and the key reforms of that movement

• be able to assess the purpose of access reforms in Australia and other legal systems

• be better able to research and evaluate the effectiveness of Australia's legal system

• be equipped to come to conclusions about the respective roles of governments and interest groups in shaping and reforming the legal system

• have developed improved skills in the areas of presentation, essay writing, independent research and observation