Towards a more effective legal aid. The Belgian case in comparative perspective

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL DIRITTO
Author/s Steve Gibens, Jean Van Houtte
Publishing Year 2011 Issue 2011/2
Language English Pages 25 P. 83-107 File size 338 KB
DOI 10.3280/SD2011-002005
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This article attempts to establish how legal aid systems in countries neighbouring Belgium cope with their citizens’ legal aid problems, as well as how their systems are organised and funded by their governments. Legal aid does not even seem to be comprehensive and generous in all the countries compared. From the comparative analysis of the five countries, it would appear that the more funding there is, the more systems can be defined as generous and comprehensive: in other words, where there is a political will to provide the necessary budgets. As legal practitioners undeniably play a role, this complicates the process of achieving a balance between budget restrictions and decent fees.

Keywords: Legal aid, Comparative analysis, Legal systems, Comprehensive and generous, Eligibility criteria

Steve Gibens, Jean Van Houtte, Towards a more effective legal aid. The Belgian case in comparative perspective in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL DIRITTO " 2/2011, pp 83-107, DOI: 10.3280/SD2011-002005