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  • Access To Justice

    Topics:
    • Justice and the law
    To promote justice through cross-cutting policy, procedural and structural reforms. Here you will find how we are progressing.

    Access to Justice

    • Violent Offences Prevention Order Provisions
    • Legal needs of young people in Northern Ireland
    • Departmental action plan 2012 to 2015
    • Autism guide for criminal justice professionals
    • Flowchart of the criminal justice process
    • Use of live links in court

    Access to Justice 2

    The Access to Justice Review 2, established by the Minister of Justice, David Ford MLA, started work on 16 June 2014.

    Terms of reference

    Publicly funded legal services have undergone significant reform and change in recent years. Looking to the future, it is important to have a clear strategic approach to the development of publicly funded legal services and access to justice.

    A strategic approach is necessary to safeguard the interests of justice in an environment where there are many competing demands on public expenditure. It helps ensure that decisions on resources are informed by clearly articulated and prioritised business needs. It will help government to meet its obligations by ensuring that the right services are prioritised and can be sustained at the appropriate level and quality into the future.

    Building on the review conducted in 2011, and taking account of changes already in hand, this further review of access to justice will contribute to the development of the vision for the future of publicly funded legal services in Northern Ireland, drawing on the views of the legal profession and other stakeholders, taking account of the experiences of other jurisdictions and reflecting on the financial implications.

    The review will:

    Identify and prioritise those services where publicly funded advice and/or representation should be provided in order to meet human rights obligations, safeguard the interests of the vulnerable and meet the wider public interest.

    Consider the delivery models that might be best suited to the provision of publicly funded legal services including through mechanisms other than legal aid.

    Consider whether there are aspects of the justice system where efficiencies might contribute towards reducing the cost of publicly funded legal services while sustaining the quality of service provision.

    • Access to Justice Review Part 2 Report 2015
    • Access to Justice Agenda
    • Access to Justice Review August 2011
    • Review of criminal law in Northern Ireland
    • Justice Act (NI) 2011- football banning order guidance
    • Justic Act (NI) 2011- alcohol on buses to sports events guidance for bus operators
    • Carriage of explosives

    More in this topic

    • Compensation for a Miscarriage of Justice
    • Northern Ireland Registered Intermediary Scheme
    • Causeway
    • Abolition of preliminary investigations and mixed committals in the magistrates’ court
    • Fundamental review of criminal legal aid in Northern Ireland
    • Enabling Access to Justice Reform Programme

    Related to Access To Justice

    Most recent publications

    • Fundamental review of criminal legal aid in NI - terms of reference

      Published 2 October 2023
    • Sentencing leaflet

      Published 22 October 2021
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Consultation on proposals to reform rehabilitation periods in Northern Ireland

      Published 8 January 2021 Consultation closed
    • Report of the Access to Justice Review Part Two

      Published 3 November 2015 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Long publishes delivery plan for justice reform

      Published 30 January 2025
    • Consultation on proposals to increase legal aid remuneration opens

      Published 30 January 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Justice including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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