A new report by the Law Society of Yukon’s Access to Justice Committee explores access to lawyers who reside and practice in the Yukon, in people-centred practice areas. Members of the Access to Justice Committee visited 13 communities throughout the Yukon and spoke with representatives about the challenges experienced when trying to access the justice system. The Committee also reviewed national data, and local data from legal information organizations and the Yukon law courts. Information in the Access to Justice Committee’s report is further informed by three surveys administered by the Committee.

Findings from these sources suggest that people in the Yukon do not have adequate access to lawyers. In particular, there are few lawyers and legal resources available outside of Whitehorse. According to the report, “the lack of legal resources suggests inequities in accessing lawyers across communities.” The report also identifies specific challenges related to: knowing when and how to contact a lawyer, a lack of civil law lawyers, case volume and delays in circuit court, not enough legal aid coverage, and a lack of cultural awareness or integration in the community.Access to Justice in the Yukon: Access to Lawyers, a report by the Law Society of Yukon’s Access to Justice Committee is available in English here: https://lawsocietyyukon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/A2J-Report-Access-to-Lawyers-July-5-2024.pdf.