2.Main Content
Causes of Action:
Civil Law and Social Justice 2nd edition – Pascoe Pleasence with Nigel Balmer and Alexy Buck
New research findings published March 2006:
- Over the three and a half years of the survey the cost of legal problems to individuals and public services was at least £13 billion.
- People who get advice to help with their problems are far more successful at obtaining their objectives than those who try to get advice but fail.
Summary
In 2004 the first edition of Causes of Action was published, based on the Legal Services Research Centre survey of legal needs in 2001. A second survey was conducted in 2004, and the results of the two surveys have now been published.
In the foreword, the Lord Chancellor recognises the cost to society of dealing with problems such as homelessness, debt, relationship breakdown and discrimination. His conclusion is that ‘investment in early advice clearly brings benefits for us all’.
This is a comprehensive and fascinating piece of research, which will repay detailed study. Some of the key findings are:
- The number of people experiencing justiciable problems fell between 2001 (36%) and 2004 (33%).Justiciable problems have a wide impact on people and on society: of those experiencing legal problems 34% of people suffered health problems, 17% loss of confidence, 16% loss of income or employment, and 6% loss of their home.
- 10% of those respondents who experienced legal problems took no action to deal with them. Of those, a third said this was because they believed nothing could be done. Mostly they thought that whatever action was taken would make no difference. Only 8% did not know where to get advice or help, 2% were concerned about cost, and 6% were concerned about the time it would take.
- When action was taken, 65% sought formal advice, and the rest handled their problems alone.
- Of those who got advice, 20% got advice from a solicitor, 15% from the local council, 9% from a CAB, 8% from the police and 7% from a health professional.
- ADR was used to resolve disputes in 2% of cases in 2004, down from 4% in 2001. This represents 1% by mediation, and 1% through ombudsmen schemes.
- Respondents who got advice obtained all of their objectives four times as often as those who tried, but failed, to get advice.
- On 11% of occasions advice was given exclusively by phone.
Causes of Action I is available from the Legal Services Research Centre website
Causes of Action II was published in March 2006 and can be ordered from the LSRC web site: http://www.lsrc.org.uk/publications.htm
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