ABSTRACT
Whilelegalaidinthecourtshasalwaysbeenregardedasbeing tosomeextenttheresponsibilityoftheState,legaladvicehas, untilrecentyears,receivednoofficialrecognition.
Injusticearisesmoreobviouslyfrominabilitytocontestacase incourtbutitrequireslittlethoughttorealizethatthepoorare alsoseverelyhandicappedwhentheywishtoascertaintheirlegal positionandtoobtainassistanceshortofcourtproceedings.The poorarelesseducatedandinformed;theyhavenot,likethemore wealthyman,alawyerfriendwhomtheycancasuallyaskfor explanationofatriflingpoint,andoftentheycannotaffordto payasolicitor'sfeeformereadvicemuchlessthelargerfeesin whichtheymaybecomeinvolvediftheworktobedoneproves tobesubstantial.AsDr.E.J.Cohnhaswritten, 1"Inour societyithasbecomeexpensivenotonlytolitigatebutevento avoidlitigation,andtokeeponthestraight(andoftennarrow) roadoflawfulness."Yetthepoor,likeothercitizens,arepresumedtoknowthelaw,andhavetobearthebruntoftheir ignoranceeveniftheyhavenow_ayofremedyingit.
