Modest income earners who are ineligible for free legal services but unable to afford hefty legal fees are most likely to miss out on justice.
A new report identifies lawyers working in teams, hourly billing and a lack of information on fees as making the legal system inaccessible for many. It also cites lawyers’ expectancies for high profit margins and little incentive for the system to change as major problems.
The report recommends changes to the current system to make it more fair and affordable. These include the establishment of a legal consumer advocate and websites to rate lawyer affordability, greater transparency on fees and fixed fees over hourly billing.
Read more at RMIT University