Many industries and professions find themselves on the precipice of era-defining change; new and innovative technologies and concepts are disrupting traditional ways of working, many of which are fundamentally steeped in sustainability.
As well as the health of the planet itself, social inequalities and persistent and pervasive poverty issues demand the attention of all – especially those in professional positions of power, and that includes those working in the law sector.
In 1987, the Brundtland Commission was tasked by the United Nations (UN) to formulate a ‘global agenda for change.’ Within it was a guiding definition of sustainability as it pertains to development. ‘Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ This core definition was subsequently embraced when all UN nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2015, creating a plan to combat global poverty, protect the Earth and achieve global peace and prosperity by the year 2030.
These lofty goals call upon all to make any difference they can, given their circumstances. For Lawyers, the responsibility to efficiently adapt to the changing needs of our time has never been greater.
Breaking down the barriers to justice
In recent years, the race has been on to close the access-to-justice gap once and for all. The conditions of the pandemic helped to accelerate these developments, forcing court cases online, and seeing many people navigating the process themselves thanks to innovative legal tech sites like People Clerk.
Many legal awareness programs and legal aid itself play a vital role in breaking down the barriers to justice for all, enabling vastly easier access to all. By protecting the rights of the most marginalized groups, such as women, the disabled, youth, LGBTI, and minority groups, these initiatives are an essential component to realizing the UN’s vision of working towards a sustainably peaceful future.
There is much that lawyers can (and are) doing to help improve community access to justice. Meaningful approaches include:
- Putting pressure on local governments to allocate more funding to legal aid
- Cultivating a positive pro-bono workplace culture in their firm
- Implementing complimentary initial consultations
- Assist low-income persons in applying for public support
- Collaborating with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) to further increase their community’s access to justice
Managing human rights risk
Identifying and managing human rights issues is one of the core elements to successfully creating a sustainable future in law. Lawyers must strive to effectively counsel their clients when it comes to tensions that may be apparent between human rights issues, national law, and access to justice. From a perspective of company responsibility, law firms can also mitigate the risk of human rights issues by addressing how the firm manages relationships with third parties – from selecting who to work with, performance monitoring practices, contract renewal and termination protocols, and more. Mindfully managing human rights risks is essential to improving sustainability practices and managing professional reputation.
Tech bridging the gap
Phenomenal advancements in technology are also helping to bridge the access-to-justice gap, with many platforms and software making legal services significantly more accessible and affordable on a broader scale. These technologies include those that provide legal information and general advice, tech that supports automated practices to free up legal professionals’ time and platforms that connect both individuals to lawyers and law professionals to each other.
Sustainability – the inevitable future of law
The world of law sits at the forefront of human rights, and legal professionals who prioritize sustainability in all facets are required to make the UN’s goals achievable.
Lawyers are being called upon to not only support and adapt to vital changes but also to innovate and drive them – to be the change. By developing new practices and committing to staying well-informed on global sustainability issues and innovations, lawyers can effectively make a stand for improved access to justice, human rights protections, and more.
Lawyers and their firms contribute toward a sustainable future when they:
- Contribute to the protection of human rights through the ethical standards of their work practices and their firms’ approach to pro bono cases
- Provide free legal services to those in need in their community
- Integrating both green practices and social responsibility into their work practices and encouraging it in their clients
- Prioritize diversity and equal professional opportunities and growth
- Invest in staff training on key emerging legal technologies to continually improve community access to justice
- Commit to never ending-learning regarding best practices for sustainability, human rights protection, access to justice, and equality for all
Final thoughts
With its privileged position in society, the legal profession at large is uniquely poised to drive global sustainability efforts in a meaningful way. Still, individual law firms cannot achieve significant change alone – the more that the profession unites globally toward a sustainable future that upholds human rights and ensures access to justice for all, the greater the outcome.
