Aside from the limited provision of state-funded legal aid, a large number of Gambians have no access to the proper legal advice and representation needed to access the Gambian judicial system.

The main barriers to accessing the justice system in The Gaambia incude the folowing:

• the high costs associated with legal proceedings, including court filing fees and physically attending court proceedings
• lack of physical access to court buildings and lawyers in many of The Gambia’s administrative divisions
• an intimidating formal court atmosphere, replete with technicalities and complex procedures
• significant delays in resolving matters before the courts, with civil matters taking between two and six years on average to conclude with frequent adjournments