Description:
Poor people are often denied access to the courts due to expensive legal fees. Preventing free access to justice violates a fundamental constitutional principle and universal international norms. The recognition of access to justice and the rule of law as outcomes and facilitators of sustainable development is a unique feature of the 2030 Agenda. This study shows that providing affordable and timely access to justice institutions and legal aid services will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16 targets of peace, justice, and strong institutions. Indian law school clinics have a unique opportunity to achieve the goal through institutionalized clinical legal education. The Advocates Act of 1961 requires an amendment to allow law students and faculty to represent pro bono clients. The study infers that completely institutionalizing the law school legal aid clinics as part of clinical legal education is a powerful platform to promote equal access to justice to all.