How to talk about the rule of law and access to justice

How to talk about the rule of law and access to justice offers evidence-based recommendations to build understanding and support, along with practical examples, tips and tools.

It’s for anyone working in – or communicating about – the rule of law or access to justice. It draws on research conducted across England and Wales by FrameWorks UK, supported by the Law Society of England and Wales.

For more than a decade, the rule of law and access to justice have been undermined. Cuts to court funding, legal aid and legal education have made it harder for justice to be done. At the same time, the rule of law has been positioned as a tool for ‘enemies of the people’ and ‘lefty lawyers’ to frustrate public will.

How the rule of law and access to justice shape our lives – and so why they matter to all of us – is neither widely known nor understood. This makes it harder to make the case for the changes to policy and practice that can improve and strengthen both.

We can start to overcome these challenges by making choices about how we frame our communications.

This toolkit is a companion resource to our research briefing: Talking about the rule of law and access to justice.