The Accessible Justice Project Limited

The Accessible Justice Project Limited is an Australian not-for-profit legal organisation dedicated to providing affordable legal services to individuals experiencing civil disputes who do not qualify for legal aid and cannot afford private legal representation. Established in 2020 and based in Adelaide, South Australia, the organisation aims to address the "missing middle" in access to justice, offering legal assistance to a segment of the population often underserved by the traditional legal aid system.

Background and Purpose

The Accessible Justice Project was initiated through a collaboration between the specialist international dispute resolution law firm Lipman Karas and the University of Adelaide. The project emerged in response to findings from the Law Council of Australia's 2018 Justice Project, which highlighted significant gaps in legal aid coverage. Specifically, while approximately 14% of Australians live below the poverty line, legal aid is only accessible to about 8%, leaving a large population without affordable legal support. This "missing middle" group often faces challenges in resolving civil disputes due to financial constraints.

Operating since August 2020, the Accessible Justice Project seeks to relieve pressure on the Australian justice system by providing innovative, affordable legal services to this group, particularly in civil law matters. The organisation is committed to improving equitable access to justice by offering assistance to those who fall outside the eligibility criteria for public legal aid but are unable to afford private lawyers.

Services

The organisation offers confidential legal advice and dispute resolution services aimed at helping clients understand their legal rights and options, enabling them to resolve conflicts without incurring prohibitive costs. It focuses on real-life legal problems and strives to deliver effective and compassionate legal solutions tailored to the needs of the community members it serves.

Team and Approach

Staffed by a passionate and empathetic team of legal professionals, the Accessible Justice Project combines expertise with a client-centred approach. The team is dedicated to making legal assistance accessible, fostering an environment where individuals feel supported and empowered throughout their legal journeys.

Significance

The Accessible Justice Project plays a pivotal role in addressing access to justice issues in Australia, particularly by targeting underserved populations caught between the gaps of public legal aid and private legal markets. Its innovative model serves as an example of how collaborative efforts between legal practitioners and academic institutions can create practical solutions to systemic problems in the legal system.

This summary reflects information available as of 2025 about The Accessible Justice Project Limited, its mission, and operations.

[1] https://accessiblejustice.org.au [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/500905fa-5554-ea11-a813-000d3ad1f9f4/profile [3] https://www.lk.law/community/access-to-justice/the-accessible-justice-project/ [4] https://accessiblejustice.org.au/how-we-can-help [5] https://www.probonocentre.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AJP-PRO-BONO-VOCO-JUNE21.pdf