The Legal Problems of Everyday Life: The Nature, Extent and Consequences of Justiciable Problems Experienced by Canadians

The purpose of this study is to inform policy makers about the incidence of civil justice problems and the extent of unmet need for assistance that justiciable problems in civil matters might represent. The study assumes a broad view of civil justice problems and unmet need. The broad view looks at the problem of civil justice and access to justice in terms of the prevalence of civil justice problems in the population. This involves identifying, by means of a sample survey, civil justice problems people have experienced that meet some reasonable threshold of seriousness. The broad view contrasts with the narrow view of civil justice and access to the justice system. The narrow view takes as a starting point the problems that come to the attention of the courts or other formal dispute resolution mechanisms.

Chapter II discusses the methodology and how it reflects the assumptions underlying the broad approach to civil justice needs that forms the paradigm of this research. Chapter III reports the basic data on the incidence of civil justice problems and considers the seriousness threshold that is fundamental to this type of research. Chapter IV examines the occurrence of multiple problems and the extent to which multiple problems reflect unmet need. Chapter V identifies the varied responses to civil justice problems and Chapter VI examines the outcomes of justiciable problems. The non-legal consequences of justiciable problems; in particular, the physical and mental health impacts are the subject of Chapter VII. Chapter VIII looks at the connection between the experience of civil justice problems and attitudes toward the law and the justice system.

Link to full report: Canadian Study

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