Reframing justice – let’s talk differently about law and justice

Which story – which way of seeing the world – dominates and shapes the public narrative and political priorities in the years to come, will depend on how well the story is framed.

Solicitors are a cornerstone of the justice system and upholding the rule of law. The Law Society amplifies the powerful collective voice of more than 200,000 solicitors. We know it’s important to our members that access to justice and the rule of law are protected.

One of the key pillars of our work is to make sure the law applies to everyone equally. For this, we need a justice system that is accessible to all, well-resourced and truly independent.

But right now, both the rule of law and access to justice are under attack.

To meet this challenge, we are taking a new, ambitious and long-term approach to change the story we tell. 

The ideas we share – and how we share them – shape how our actions, our clients and how our profession is seen and understood.

This is why we have partnered with FrameWorks UK, a not-for-profit research organisation that specialises in communicating about social issues in ways that create change, on our Reframing Justice programme.

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Our goals

To build public support and political will for change, we need a long-term shift in how the public and decision-makers feel, think and talk about access to justice and the rule of law.

Research from this programme will:

• form an evidence-base of what works to shift public thinking and build support for change
• share practical recommendations, tools and advice on how to communicate around law and justice
• shape a long-term strategic communications approach to help the field of law and justice in our shared mission to uphold the rule of law and protect the justice system

Phase 1: how do people think about the rule of law and access to justice?

In our research, we found key gaps between what experts in the fields of law and justice understand by the ‘rule of law’ and ‘access to justice’, and what the public hear and understand.   For example:

Across 2023, Frameworks UK carried out interviews with experts, reviewed academic and grey literature as well as the communication materials of organisations across the wider justice and legal fields to distil what experts in the field have been trying to convey about the rule of law and access to justice:

• why they matter
• how they work, and
• how we can better uphold and protect them

Download the research findings:

• Core ideas from the field of law and justice (PDF 178 KB)
• Field frame analysis: How are advocates talking about the rule of law and access to justice (PDF 247 KB)

Alongside this, Frameworks UK carried out in-depth interviews, surveyed a representative sample of voters in England and Wales, and reviewed media coverage to identify common mindsets about the rule of law and access to justice.

Mindsets are more than people’s surface attitudes or opinions. They are deep, assumed patterns of thinking that shape how we see the world and how we act within it.

Understanding mindsets means we can understand how people think – and what understanding we still need to build.

Phase 2: talking about access to justice and the rule of law

To bridge the gaps identified in our Phase 1 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.

The strategy places the rule of law and access to justice at the centre of everyday life and government decision-making.

At its core is the idea that the rule of law and access to justice are how we prioritise and promote the public good — responsibilities that our government has a duty to champion, properly fund and maintain

How to talk about access to justice and the rule of law – five recommendations

1. Lead with public service

Position the rule of law and access to justice as principles that not only serve society but also meet an essential public need.

2. Focus on what we have to gain

Emphasise the benefits to our communities and society when the rule of law and access to justice are functioning well.

3. Appeal to our belief in fairness for the common good

Remind people that the rule of law and access to justice are vital to the collective good of society.

4. Use explanatory metaphors – rules of the game and level playing field

Show how the rule of law and access to justice work in practice.

5. Name and explain connections to everyday life

Demonstrate the relevance and importance of the rule of law and access to justice.

For more information on the recommendations and what they look like in practise, explore our framing strategy (PDF 681 KB).

The strategy and recommendations are grounded in evidence, rigorously tested and verified through comprehensive research and analysis. 

Next steps

We will soon be releasing a toolkit to help communications professionals and organisations make the case for strengthening the rule of law and improving access to justice.

Shifting narratives will take time and work, but we hope this approach will help us build public support in years to come.