Reframing justice
The rule of law and access to justice are vital to everyday life in England and Wales, underpinning our social, political and economic systems.
Over the last 20 years, the rule of law and access to justice have been undermined by cuts to court funding, legal education and legal aid.
Public narratives have positioned the rule of law and the justice system as opponents to the public good, with claims like ‘lefty lawyers’ and judges being ‘enemies of the people.’
This rhetoric has real-life consequences, as seen during the 2024 riots, where immigration lawyers and legal advice centres were targeted.
“Framing is the choices we make about what ideas we share and how we share them,” explains Tamsyn Hyatt, director of evidence at FrameWorks UK.
“It’s what we emphasise, how we explain an issue, and what we leave unsaid. These choices affect how people think, feel and act.”
At FrameWorks UK, reframing:
- is based on rigorous research
- is led by experts in communications, cognitive anthropology, psychology and linguistics
- works through consistent, disciplined and repeated use of new ‘frames’ over time
In the last 10 years, many sectors have used reframing to build support for their campaigns and policy influencing.
This includes housing and homelessness, adult social care, children in care, ageing and climate justice.
When essential concepts like the rule of law and access to justice are overlooked, weaponised, or misunderstood, we must find new ways to communicate their importance.
Solicitors play a vital role in helping people see the rule of law and access to justice as crucial to everyday life and in holding the government accountable for championing and maintaining both.
Effective communication tools can help repair the damage done and provide resilience against future threats to the rule of law and access to justice.
Our research
We developed and tested new ways to communicate about access to justice and the rule of law.
Our research helped us develop a framing strategy to foster collective support and a sense of shared responsibility for strengthening the justice system.
How to talk about the rule of law and access to justice
We worked with Frameworks UK to create a toolkit with evidence-based recommendations for how to talk about the rule of law and access to justice in England and Wales to build understanding and support.
FrameWorks UK is a not-for-profit, mission-driven organisation, specialising in evidence-based communication strategies that shift hearts and minds.
They help charities and other organisations communicate about social issues in ways that create progress, through practical guidance underpinned by our framing research.