Small Business and Legal Needs: Effective Support for Access to Justice

The small business sector is significant to Australia’s economy and its communities. The legal environment within which a small business operates is complex, and the small business owner will inevitably need support in navigating this, particularly where legal issues arise. The inability to access appropriate legal services is an issue that can significantly impact the business owner and have broader ramifications for the community. This article will look at the complexities that small business face in navigating the legal system, the multiple factors of vulnerability that may impact small businesses and make suggestions for support that should be provided. The article recommends that more work be undertaken to consult with small businesses to ascertain the most effective support type and to monitor the effectiveness of support.