As the landmark Prison Walks event series begins, the Law Society’s head of justice Richard Miller considers the importance of the justice system to our society, and how we can all be advocates for justice and the rule of law.

Justice plays a role in all our lives. Whether that be help in a dispute with a landlord, support setting up and running a small business, navigating a relationship breakdown or fighting discrimination at work. It is as important a public service as education or healthcare.

Access to justice and the rule of law ensure the powerful play by the rules. When we face an uphill battle for justice, legal advice and representation levels the playing field for us all, supporting the common good.

Yet our justice system has been underfunded by successive governments. Its vital contribution to society and relevance to our everyday lives is often overlooked, misunderstood or undermined.

Backed by 200 years of history, the Law Society is the voice of more than 200,000 solicitors across England and Wales who serve on the frontline of the justice system. But importantly, we also have a vital public interest role in defending justice for the benefit of everyone. We are pleased the Prison Walks is bringing together leaders from across the legal sector and beyond, at this crucial time to examine contemporary issues in justice.

Our government can act

The government’s underinvestment in justice can be plainly seen. There are huge backlogs in the courts. Legal aid is becoming ever more difficult to access. Our probation service struggles to prevent the revolving door for prison leavers back into the criminal justice system. These are all issues which will be examined in the series.

The Law Society is driving efforts to properly fund and restore our justice system. So, no matter who you are, you can get the help you need when you need it – whether in court or in your community.

For example, we have lobbied for years for an effective and efficient legal aid system, to ensure that justice is available as widely as possible to those of us who cannot afford to pay for legal services.

Our research, such as our legal aid desert maps and economic analysis, highlights where the system is failing and the impact this has on the ability of the public to get the legal advice we all need at some point in our lives.

This year, we’ve seen the government increase investment in some areas of legal aid for the first time in almost 30 years. It’s a step in the right direction, but our politicians must take further practical steps to serve the public.

We also use our expertise to ensure laws are workable and applied equally to everyone. Recently, we’ve responded to a select committee inquiry about improving access to justice, and we’re also working to help politicians across parties understand the new Sentencing Bill as it begins its journey through Parliament.

The future of the justice system

The series will rightly also look at technology adoption in justice. The game-changing rise of generative AI could help improve the accessibility, efficiency and speed of justice.

However, harnessing these new technologies is not without challenge and caution. We explored these complexities in our recent 21^st Century Justice project, considering consumer protection and how to constructively and safely make use of technology in a modern civil justice system.

Arguably, the justice sector will work best when people are brought together. Convening Parliamentarians and elected representatives with the right advocates, experts and voices of lived experience to demonstrate the impact different issues can have – such as the impact a lack of legal aid can have on families experiencing abuse – and point to a way forward that benefits our communities.

The Justice For All Series will provide a platform to confront the challenges and realities facing our justice system today. I look forward to engaging with the series over the course of the year. Justice is a cornerstone of a society that functions well and we all stand to gain from a more effective and accessible justice system.

Richard Miller
Head of Justice at The Law Society of England and Wales