Every year, more people in England and Wales are involved in disputes before the civil courts in England and Wales than in the criminal courts. Over 1 million claims a year – for personal injury, debt, housing disrepair, faulty consumer goods or breach of contract, for example – are dealt with in the county court.
Hidden beneath this are at least another 3.5 million people who have a legal problem that could be dealt with by the civil courts but is not. This is because they either do not know that their problem is a legal one, they cannot access legal advice or assistance, or they cannot afford to do so.
