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==Barriers to justice==
Is access to justice just about access to lawyers and courts? No, and especially not for family law matters. For people going through separation and divorce, one of the first barriers to confront is the misguided perception that court is where they need to go, or where they have to go. Popular media would have us believe that lawyers arguing before a judge is somehow the proper way to settle relationship breakdowns. That's wrong. The fact is, unless family violence is a threat factor or urgent intervention is needed to protect children, people, or property, most families don't need the court's help in to fairly resolving resolve their separation.
People need accurate information about legal rights (their own, the other person's, and their children's), finances, and the risks and benefits of the choices they want to make. All of this information empowers an individual to resolve issues and make an acceptable compromise as needed. People then need certainty that the resolution and compromise will be respected, followed, and enforced if necessary. To this end, many efficient, sensible, and effective alternatives to court exist that satisfy these core needs. And many of them are less costly, less stressful, and less time-consuming than going to court. Court is generally only better for highly contentious issues.