Criminal vs Civil: The Unequal Right to Counsel

This project compares how lawmakers in France, the United States, and Canada have debated and shaped the right to legal counsel in criminal and civil cases from 1953 to the present. By analyzing legislative transcripts, it seeks to understand why France, a country that faces similar constraints, including a shrinking justice budget, nonetheless provides stronger protections for civil legal aid than its North American counterparts. It examines how political language and institutional choices have contributed to these differences. The study will build a new dataset of legislative debates and produce comparative insights into how legal protections evolve over time. Participating institutions will benefit from original cross-national research that deepens understanding of access to justice, strengthens collaboration between Canadian and French researchers, and provides evidence-based recommendations for improving civil legal aid policy in Canada and beyond.

Faculty Supervisor:

Barry Eidlin

Student:

Partner:

Sciences Po

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: