A Study of the Legal Needs of New Hampshire’s Low-Income Residents

The Justice Gap
A Study of the Legal Needs of New Hampshire’s Low-Income Residents



Every subject of this state is entitled to a certain remedy, by having 
recourse to the laws,  for all injuries he may receive in his person, 
property, or character; to obtain right and justice freely, without being 
obliged to purchase it; completely, and without any denial; promptly, and 
without delay; conformably to the laws. 
N.H. Constitution, Part I, Article 14  

February 2013

This study was sponsored by the New Hampshire Access to Justice 

Commission which was established in 2007 by order of the New Hampshire 

Supreme Court. Consistent with Part 1, Article 14 of the New Hampshire 

Constitution, the Court said, it was creating the Commission to “expand access to 

and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters for New Hampshire 

residents.” The Legal Advice and Referral Center (LARC) coordinated with the 

Commission in developing the study. 

The New Hampshire Bar Foundation provided funding for the study. 

Research was conducted in conjunction with the Rockefeller Center for Public 

Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College by LARC, the New 

Hampshire Bar Association’s Pro Bono Referral Program and New Hampshire 

Legal Assistance. Funding for an independent analysis of the impact of the study’s 

findings on the New Hampshire economy was provided by the American Bar 

Association Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project. 

Electronic copies of both reports are available on the websites of both the 

Access to Justice Commission (http://www.courts.state.nh.us/access/index.htm) 

and LARC ( www.nhlegalaid.org).  

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