Abstract
Everyone in Aotearoa should have the same opportunity to seek help with legal problems. Few could deny the importance of this aspiration in a modern, democratic society. Unfortunately, our present reality is far removed from this ideal. A significant portion of society is restricted from accessing essential assistance with their legal problems because they cannot afford a lawyer and do not qualify for legal aid. This group falls within the "justice gap."
People in the justice gap often deal with unresolved legal problems for long periods of time. These unresolved problems have potentially serious consequences for their physical and financial wellbeing, particularly for the most vulnerable groups in society. I argue the Government and the legal profession have a responsibility to ensure universal access to justice and must show leadership in addressing the justice gap as an urgent priority in Aotearoa.
This dissertation proposes a strategy to close the justice gap in Aotearoa. [It] focuses on improving access to justice in the civil jurisdiction, rather than the criminal jurisdiction. In particular, I examine the role of technology in improving people’s access to resources to solve everyday legal problems.