Page 1309 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994

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THE GOVERNMENT AGREES IN PRINCIPLE AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE LEGAL SYSTEM WORKS;

WHILST INITIATIVES SUCH AS LAW WEEK, AND STRATEGIES WITHIN THE SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM ARE IMPORTANT, THE GENERAL FEELING IS THAT IT IS REALISTIC TO PLACE THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON ENSURING THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A LEGAL OR SIMILAR PROBLEM, THEY WILL KNOW WHERE TO GO TO FOR HELP, AND WILL RECEIVE USER-FRIENDLY ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY DO SO;

TO THAT END, THERE ARE VARIOUS FUNDED HELP AGENCIES (LIKE THE LEGAL AID COMMISSION), WHILST THE TRADITIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION STRUCTURES (SUCH AS THE COURTS) ALL PLACE CONSIDERABLE EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING HELP, INCLUDING PRODUCTION OF A WIDE RANGE OF USER-FRIENDLY PAMPHLETS;

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO DOES EVERYTHING IT CAN TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY-BASED COMMUNITY LAW REFORM COMMITTEE; THE USE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS; SEEKING COMMENT ON LAW REFORM BY MEANS OF DISCUSSION PAPERS;

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS OF DEMYSTIFYING THE LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM - A NATIONAL CHALLENGE.

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