Whether it is reducing the length of time it takes for cases to be heard in court or making it easier for people to access legal assistance, law reform can help people navigate a system that can be intimidating, costly and often times unreliable.
Law reform involves a number of processes including research and writing, lobbying, and advocacy. The main goal is to change laws or create new ones in order to enhance justice and/or efficiency. Examples of law reform include repeal (getting rid of a law), creation of new law, consolidation and codification (changing existing laws).
It is important to emphasize to students that a key element in the work undertaken by the Commission is communication and education. Once the work group has prepared proposals on a specific area of law they are then tasked with communicating and educating stakeholders who may be affected by these new laws or changes to the current legal system. This includes explaining the rationale behind the proposed legislation and identifying any misconceptions that may exist in an attempt to alleviate these concerns.
The chapter concludes by reminding students that legal reform isn’t just about lawyers or rules, but about real people – their neighbors, coworkers and even their families – who need help navigating a system that too often is stacked against them. It is about the difference between getting help or going it alone, sometimes with life-altering consequences.
Structural reforms are often the most effective way to improve justice in a country, but they require the support of key societal actors and a strategy that builds on – rather than attempts to replace – a nation’s rooted legal culture.