This book examines the state of access to criminal justice by considering the health of the lawyer-client relationship under legal aid. In the largest study of its kind for some two decades, ethnographic fieldwork is used to gain a fresh perspective upon the interaction that lies at the heart of the criminal justice system's equality of arms. The research produces two contradictory messages; in interview, lawyers claim a positive relationship with their clients while, under participant observation, there emerges quite the opposite. Paying more heed to what was seen than what was said, it is supposed that these lawyers were able to talk the talk but not walk the walk. The lawyers treat their clients with wanton disrespect; making fun of them, talking over them and pushing them to plead guilty – despite protestations to the contrary. The evidence is damning for this branch of the legal profession – and tragic for the clients who depend on them. What is responsible for this malaise…inadequate financial remuneration? Increased time pressures? Lapsed ethical training? Whatever the origin, this book is intended to show the profession that there is a problem – one that could get worse unless they choose to learn from the mistakes made by the lawyers in this study.
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This book examines the state of access to criminal justice by considering the health of the lawyer-client relationship under legal aid.
Chapter One – Access to Justice and the Lawyer–Client Relationship Chapter Two – Investigating the Reality of Legally Aided Criminal Defence Chapter Three – Attitudes What Lawyers said about Attitudes What I saw on Attitudes Attitudes Chapter Four – Behaviour What Lawyers said about Behaviour What I saw on Behaviour Behaviour Chapter Five – Outcomes What Lawyers said about Outcomes What I saw on Outcomes Outcomes Chapter Six – Some Concluding Thoughts: Access to Justice and the Lawyer–Client Relationship Revisited
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[S]uperbly researched and edited, drawing upon a wealth of studies and, more importantly, on countless interviews with lawyers on the subject of their representation of individuals who have received legal aid...Recipes for success are found in each chapter and prescriptions for a healthy professional and personal life abound...
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This book examines the current state of access to criminal justice by considering the health of the lawyer-client relationship under legal aid. In the largest study of its kind for some two decades, ethnographic fieldwork is used to gain a fresh perspective upon the interaction that lies at the heart of the criminal justice system's equality of arms. The book offers a fascinating analysis of this topical area of the justice system that will be of interest to all those wanted to learn more about the current state of the access to justice.
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781849464338
Publisert
2013-08-30
Utgiver
Vendor
Hart Publishing
Vekt
471 gr
Høyde
234 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Dybde
12 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
198

Forfatter

Biographical note

Daniel Newman is a research assistant and associate lecturer at Cardiff University.