Senate Inquiry into the High Cost of Justice: 'The Money or the Gun.' (From Improving Access to Justice: The Future of Paralegal Professionals -- Conference Proceedings, 1990, Canberra, Australia, P 19-24, 1991, Julia Vernon and Francis Regan, eds. -- See NCJ-129734)

• NCJ Number: 129736
• Author(s): C Schacht
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Australia needs to enter the next century with a dynamic, fair, and accessible justice system.

Abstract

A major task faced by the current government involves reform and restructuring of Australia's economic and social infrastructure. The justice system needs more emphasis, since costs are high and system operation is not always efficient. Reform of the legal aid system is of particular concern with respect to the cost and accessibility of justice. For many disputes, services provided by community mediation centers may represent a cost-effective approach. Alternative dispute resolution clearly provides an option outside the court system which needs to be examined more carefully. Elected governments in a democratic society have the responsibility to establish a legislative and administrative framework whereby individuals can be treated fairly without having to hire lawyers and initiate expensive litigation. The use of paralegal professionals may be one way of reducing costs and improving access to justice.