New Website Advocating a Civil Right to Counsel
By Martin Stainthorp, Communication Programs Associate
Every year millions in the United States are forced to navigate through serious civil legal disputes on their own, without the help of a lawyer. The consequences can be severe-eviction, loss of child custody, deportation, among others. But many-unable to afford an attorney or obtain free legal services, and with no right to have an attorney appointed-have no choice but to represent themselves.
To change that, the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel is working to secure a right to counsel in civil cases in which basic human rights are at stake. As part of the coalition’s Leadership and Support Initiative, the Shriver Center is launching a website, www.civilrighttocounsel.org, devoted to the issue. It offers information and resources on the coalition and the campaign as well as links to recent developments and articles.
Research leaves no doubt that individuals represented by attorneys achieve more favorable court outcomes than those who represent themselves. Tenants fighting eviction, parents in custody battles, and refugees applying for asylum need representation in order to make their cases effectively.
More than 45 million individuals have incomes low enough to qualify for federally funded legal aid. But a Legal Services Corporation report indicates that only 20 percent of those with civil legal problems are able to find legal assistance. A justice gap persists, exacerbating the divide between those who can afford a lawyer and those who cannot.
A right to counsel in civil cases has long been established in many countries around the world, and support is growing in the United States. In 2006 the American Bar Association unanimously passed a resolution endorsing a civil right to counsel, and several state and local bar associations have followed with resolutions and task forces. The National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel is coordinating activities on the national and state level. Visit www.civilrighttocounsel.org for more information and to get involved.
Tags: Access to Justice/Legal Services/Civil Gideon, Clearinghouse Review
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