A new collaborative research project, commissioned by CILEx Regulation, BSB, CLC and ICAEW was launched this month in collaboration with M-E-L Research. This new initiative looks to understand the experiences of digitally excluded consumers using or looking to use legal and probate accountancy services.
Digital exclusion is multifaceted, encompassing a range of issues such as lack of access, affordability and digital literacy. The research aims to provide strong evidence about the people who experience digital exclusion and the types of digital exclusion experienced. It will increase knowledge of initiatives and ways to overcome the difficulties and barriers these people face. The work will include:
- identifying barriers preventing individuals accessing essential legal and legal-accountancy services.
- a multi-phased approach including interviews with relevant stakeholder organisations
- face-to-face interviews with individuals experiencing digital exclusion and who have had a legal need
- interviews to explore challenges and potential strategies more thoroughly
By understanding the specific needs and challenges of digitally excluded people, the research will explore more inclusive service delivery models to improve access to legal services faced by these frequently vulnerable people.
