Closing the Civil Justice Gap

 
The "justice gap," commonly defined as the difference between the civil legal needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and the resources available to meet those needs, is a significant and persistent problem that affects many millions of Americans each year. According to the Legal Services Corporation, 98% of tenants in eviction cases and 95% of parents in child support cases face the legal system without any legal representation.

VLS Co-Executive Director and Chief Counsel Anna Richardson and Harvard Law School Professor Martha Minow discuss "Civil Justice for All," a report produced by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. With a topical focus on Veterans, Housing, Families, and Health, the report issued a wide array of recommendations for closing the justice gap, including the resources necessary to make it happen.