Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 67
Paragraph
Paragraph text
As well as quality and accessibility, the timing of legal assistance is of great importance. Often, when the poor are accused of criminal offences, they do not have access to a lawyer or paralegal until a trial is imminent. However, lawyers can play a crucial role at the time of arrest and during pretrial stages, especially in cases where the accused does not have access to legal information or financial resources for bail. As well as being in the interests of justice, timely legal intervention benefits the legal system as a whole, improving efficiency and reducing delays.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights