IBA consults on guidance for legal aid systems

The International Bar Association (IBA) is developing guidance on legal aid systems for jurisdictions worldwide.

The project, which is being coordinated by the IBA Bar Issues Commission and the IBA Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee, is now consulting on an approach to access to legal aid in civil, administrative and family justice systems. The consultation document was prepared following a Legal Aid Roundtable held in Belfast at the IBA Mid-Year Meeting.

Andrew Mackenzie, co-vice chair of the IBA Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee and chief executive of the Scottish Arbitration Centre (pictured), said: “The aim of the project is to produce a guidance document on the matters that governments could usefully consider when developing or reforming their legal aid systems and to offer examples of good practice from around the world. I hope Scottish practitioners will engage in the process and complete the consultation.”

The responses will be discussed at a session at the IBA Annual Conference in Sydney in October.

The consultation document can be downloaded here.