Is the current regime of legal aid enough to ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of the individual?

Abstract

The underlying basis and reasoning of this research, is to address and enquire about the benefits and effects of Legal Aid and what, actually is its impetus. The study apart from delving in the legal world and its relative approach in regards, will also look attentively at the service of Legal Aid, along with its ripple effects in the domestic and international community. The ECHR along with many other important international legal instruments, consider Legal Aid as being central when it comes to the so required observation of Fundamental Human Rights. These Human Rights form the nub on which the absolute majority of modern democratic countries want to build their respective countries on and therefore Legal Aid should be an essential part of any good, valuable legal system. The overall approach throughout these particular instruments is that through such an important service these objectives are more readily achieved. But, in the everyday running of Courts and in all legal procedures, are these targets being achieved? Is the vulnerable individual being assisted and availing of the full required service of Legal Aid? Equality for All before the law, should not be a desired state but an actual reality. In such countries where the Rule of Law is considered to be an important pillar supporting their respective constitutions, the benefit of Legal Aid is a necessary step in order to achieve this.