The Cost of Justice: Weighing The Costs of Fair & Effective Resolution to Legal Problems

This report introduces a five year Canadian research project that aims to determine the financial and social costs of access to civil justice in Canada. The research project aims to gather information to inform evidence-based decision-making about the civil justice systems in Canada and internationally. The overall goal is to help inform government and other justice stakeholders to set accurate priorities, in order to ensure a civil justice system that is effective and responsive to public needs. The report canvasses the research methodology for the project in broad strokes, and provides a map of the questions guiding the researchers which build upon existing Canadian and international research on access to justice issues.