Access to justice is a frontline issue for us as lawyers. As with modernization of the justice system, it is a challenge we have know about for years, and one that has attracted the dedicated work of government, judges, lawyers and academics. However, change has been slow to come. The perennial problems of complexity, costs, and marginalization of certain groups remain with us.
Today, with the modernization of the justice system spurred by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the pace of modernization and the possibility of addressing many access to justice issues has increased. We are perhaps on a verge of a sea-change in how Canadians will gain access to the justice system.
Most prominent among these changes are remote hearings, which offer the possibility for remote communities to gain access to justice in ways not available previously. In addition, legal clinics may take on expanded roles as justice hubs, where individuals can gain access to legal advice and log-in to remote hearings, all in one location. And as always, the role of lawyers dedicating their time through organizations such a Pro Bono Ontario serves a crucial role.
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