The Updating Justice archival collection explores key social justice issues through a socio-legal lens, examining legal need; how laws, legal systems and justice institutions operate in practice; and how they shape the experiences of individuals and communities across New South Wales.
Grounded in data and real-world experience of legal problems, the publications and resources featured here analyse the social, economic and structural factors that influence access to justice. This work supports evidence-based discussion, policy development and reform across the legal and justice landscape.
Resolving legal problems: the role of disadvantage
New analysis of the Legal Australia-Wide Survey demonstrates the association between legal problem resolution, level of disadvantage and legal capability. The findings show that disadvantaged Australians are more likely to…
Indigenous people and legal problem resolution
We know that in Australia legal problems are widespread and if they are not resolved, there are health, social and economic consequences. This paper examines the experience of Indigenous Australians…
On the brink: how business owners experience business related and other legal problems
New analysis of LAW Survey data has identified three distinct groups among business owners according to their likelihood of experiencing business-related and other types of legal problems ‒ ‘normal’, ‘highly…
From the frying pan to the fire: the impact of small businesses’ legal problems
Among LAW Survey respondents, 2,611 people (13%) described themselves as business owners. These business owners reported 984 business-related legal problems, 65 per cent of which resulted in adverseconsequences (e.g. loss…
In need of advice: how business owners respond to legal problems
Business owners sought advice to resolve business-related legal problems more often than other LAW Survey respondents. They also made greater use of legal advisers, financial advisers and trade/professional association advisers…
Meeting the greater legal needs of single parents
New analysis of LAW Survey data reveals that single parents whose children live with them, and single parents whose children live elsewhere, have the highest prevalence of legal problems among…
The nature of personal injury
Traditional sources of data give only partial insight into the nature of personal injury as a legal problem. These data typically say little about personal injury that does not result…
Community legal education and information at Legal Aid NSW: activities,costs and a framework for planning
A Foundation review of Legal Aid NSW’s CLEI activities reveals new findings and discusses strategic directions, relevant to Legal Aid NSW and CLEI practitioners more broadly. The review included a…
Timing early intervention
This paper is drawn from Reshaping legal assistance services: building on the evidence base: a discussion paper by Pleasence, P, Coumarelos, C, Forell, S & McDonald, HM (2014). The Reshaping…
Indigenous people, multiple disadvantage and response to legal problems
This paper extends analysis of the Legal Australia-Wide (LAW) Survey national dataset by examining response to legal problems and barriers to obtaining advice by Indigenous status and level of disadvantage….
Planning legal assistance services by area: is SEIFA the answer?
Results from the Legal Australia-Wide (LAW) Survey demonstrate that certain disadvantaged groups are particularly vulnerable to legal problems. Thus, data that identify the demographic groups with high legal need and…
Planning legal outreach
This paper defines legal outreach and summarises the different models that can be used to deliver legal outreach. It describes the key characteristics of successful legal outreach and the benefits…
Availability of lawyers in RRR NSW: what we have learnt
Recent concerns about the perceived loss of lawyers from regional, rural and remote (RRR) areas have centred on recruitment and retention issues. This paper highlights key findings of two studies…
Reshaping legal assistance services, building on the evidence base: summary
The Reshaping legal assistance services discussion paper draws on a substantial base of empirical research – together with current experience of service providers – to inform the design and delivery…
Limits of legal information: when knowing what to do is not enough
One aim of community legal information and education strategies is to promote community understanding of law and what to do about legal problems. Key to this is a focus on…
Legal capability and inaction for legal problems: knowledge, stress and cost
Deficiencies in legal capability may limit a person’s ability to effectively resolve legal problems. This paper examines three reasons provided by respondents for taking no action in response to legal…
Are renters worse off? The legal needs of public and private tenants
International legal needs research has revealed that people who live in rented accommodation are particularly vulnerable to experiencing legal problems. This paper uses LAW Survey data to address the legal…
Barriers to obtaining advice for legal problems in New South Wales
The Legal Australia-Wide (LAW) Survey found that a sizeable proportion of people seek advice for the legal problems they experience, however, many report barriers to accessing the legal help they…
Do some types of legal problems trigger other legal problems?
Legal problems that have the potential to trigger other legal problems can set off a series of multiple problems, which can spiral out of control. Identifying trigger problems can help…
Youth and the law: the impact of legal problems on young people
Stress-related illness, physical ill health, relationship breakdown, moving home, and loss of income or financial strain, were all adverse consequences attributed to the legal problems reported by respondents to the…
