On January 27, 2025, Stefanie Lemke, PhD, Founder and Director of the Rule of Law Initiative and elected Board Member and Secretary-Elect of the Research Committee on Sociology of Law (RCSL), delivered a guest lecture for the Belgrade Legal Theory Group (BLTG) titled “Law in the Books and Law in Action: Using Socio-Legal Methods to Support and Empower Society to Seek Justice.” The lecture focused on the role of socio-legal methods in understanding and improving access to justice, particularly through legal aid systems.
Lemke began by introducing the Research Committee on Sociology of Law (RCSL), an international network founded in 1962 to study the relationship between law and society. She highlighted its role in promoting socio-legal research through various working groups, webinars, and conferences, mentioning the upcoming RCSL Annual Meeting in Rabat, Morocco, in July 2025. She also introduced the International Institute for the Sociology of Law (IISL) in Oñati, Spain, which offers a specialized Master’s program in Sociology of Law and serves as a hub for scholars working on global legal and social challenges.
A key part of the lecture focused on legal aid as an essential element of the justice system. Citing the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Lemke emphasized the importance of well-functioning legal aid services in ensuring equal access to justice, particularly for those who cannot afford legal representation. She illustrated this through a case study of legal aid reform in Albania, examining the impact of the country’s legal aid policy changes following its EU candidate status in 2014.
To assess the effectiveness of these reforms, a mixed-methods approach was used, including household surveys, online polls, key informant interviews, and focus groups. The findings indicated several positive developments, such as the establishment of a Legal Aid Directorate, an expanded legal aid system, and a relatively positive public perception of the justice system, with 68% of respondents believing their rights were adequately protected. However, significant challenges remained, including a widespread lack of awareness about legal aid services, a tendency for individuals to seek help from friends and family rather than legal professionals, and various socio-economic, physical, and psychological barriers to accessing legal aid. Additionally, budget limitations were highlighted as a major concern, with Albania allocating only €0.24 per capita for legal aid in 2020, significantly below the European median of €3.08 per capita.
Lemke concluded by emphasizing the importance of socio-legal research in identifying gaps in legal aid provision and informing policy improvements. The discussion that followed explored how similar research methodologies could be applied in Serbia to strengthen legal institutions and improve access to justice for vulnerable populations. The lecture provided valuable insights into the practical role of law in society and underscored the need for evidence-based approaches to legal reform.