Pennsylvania Report Documents Civil Justice Need
A statewide coalition in Pennsylvania has documented what it termed a “staggering” number of unrepresented low-income litigants involved in civil lawsuits, adding that the lack of representation impacts the quality of life for many.
The Pennsylvania Civil Legal Justice Coalition released its report at a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee and recommends the creation of a first-ever Access to Justice Commission to serve as a vehicle for studying and implementing measures to expand access to justice in the state.
InĀ Toward Equal Justice for All: Report of the Civil Legal Justice Coalition, the 30-member coalition documents evidence presented at three statewide hearings held in 2013 by the Senate Judiciary Committee to explore the state of access to justice in Pennsylvania. According to the Philadelphia Bar Association, the report cites one recent study that found that for every dollar spent on legal aid in Pennsylvania, there is an $11 return to the state and its residents.
Access the report via a Philadelphia Bar Association press update here:Ā http://www.philadelphiabar. org/page/NewsItem&newsItemID= 1001372