More and better access to justice – a few thoughts (Summer 2020)

It’s that time of year again when I’ve had time and headspace to reflect on big challenges.

I’m passionate about access to justice and for me that means “helping more people get better outcomes which meet their needs” when they have problems which need advice (legal or otherwise).

So I got to thinking about challenges, needs and potential solutions as the waves hit the stones on the beach. It felt like we had systemic challenges not just tactical ones, and definitely not just ones which can be solved by technology (that’s simply one tool in the toolbox)

The key needs for me are:

• Design so we’re clear what we need to do
• Data to ensure we’re addressing the right needs and doing the right thing
• Tools to enable the action
• Change to drive, deliver the outcome and follow through
• Leadership to ensure coordination and sustainability of the results and ensure collectively we do the right things  

Relatively easy to say, a bit more challenging to put together. We need them because:

• We don’t really know what we need
• We’re not clear what works better
• Lack of headspace
• Rushed or non existent design
• Incoherent strategies
• Lack of domain experience and expertise 
• Gaps in coordination with lack of strategic thrust, resource, programme/portfolio management (the difference between doing things right and doing the right things)
• Under investment and funding gaps – too much gets started but delivering not well enough without sufficient punch and impact (capacity and capability)

So we might:

• Start small, bring organisations and initiatives together on defined outputs solving specific problems
• Develop and get behind cohesive activity and strategy
• Provide effective system leadership with real focus, clarity, transparency and outcomes led
• Provide financial resource to do this properly (not half heartedly)

In conclusion, we need (i) coordination, (ii) evaluation, (iii) learning and sharing what works and what doesn’t (honestly, promptly and openly), (iv) action and (v) leadership - the system leadership of doing things better and doing better things to a design which delivers an agreed outcome.

That feels like it will deliver a step change in access to justice. Who's on board?