“Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building; it is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists. It is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status.”
- Justice Lewis Powell, Jr.
America’s civil legal system provides us with the opportunity to seek and obtain justice when our rights have been violated and a forum for redress when we have been wronged.
The term “access to justice” describes the ability of any person, regardless of income, to use the legal system to advocate for themselves and their interests.
We rely on the civil legal system to address important problems like wrongful foreclosure, domestic violence, divorce, discrimination, bankruptcy, and many other critical legal issues. While the civil legal system can be a powerful tool for remedying wrongs, it is also extremely complex and can be difficult to navigate without the help of a trained attorney. For those unable to afford an attorney, access to the court system and the justice it can provide are limited.
Lack of access to an attorney is not the only access to justice issue facing low-income individuals and families. For those who choose to represent themselves, court costs and filing fees can be a barrier to obtaining justice. It can also be difficult to find information on simple procedural issues, like when and where to file a lawsuit and what rights you have in court.
Without equal access to the justice system, many low-income Americans struggle with legal problems that negatively affect their livelihood, their health, their housing and marital status, and their children and families. If we do not ensure that those in poverty have access to the judicial system, they become disenfranchised and a target for the unscrupulous.
Our justice system is only as strong as the weakest person it protects. Ensuring that low-income people have equal access to the legal system is important not only for protecting their quality of life; it’s also essential for maintaining the quality of justice available to everyone in our society.
The Texas Access to Justice Commission works to increase access to justice by:
- Removing structural and cost barriers to the court system.
- Securing funding for legal aid providers so that they have the resources to meet the needs of low-income people seeking representation.
- Increasing pro bono service in the legal community.
- Expanding efforts to assist self-represented litigants.
To learn more about our work, please visit the Our Work portion of our site.
The Texas Access to Justice Commission does not provide legal representation. To find legal assistance in your area, please visit www.texaslawhelp.org.
