Perceptions of Fairness and Satisfaction in Lawyer-Client Interactions Among Young Offenders in Hong Kong
4:00pm - 5:30pm /
Wednesday 25th May 2016
/ Venue: Psychology Board Room, 2nd Floor Eleanor Rathbone Building Eleanor Rathbone Building
Type: Seminar /
Category: Research
- Marketing, Recruitment and Events
- Admission: Free event
- Book now
Add this event to my calendar
Click on "Create a calendar file" and your browser will download a .ics file for this event.
Microsoft Outlook: Download the file, double-click it to open it in Outlook, then click on "Save & Close" to save it to your calendar. If that doesn't work go into Outlook, click on the File tab, then on Open & Export, then Open Calendar. Select your .ics file then click on "Save & Close".
Google Calendar: download the file, then go into your calendar. On the left where it says "Other calendars" click on the arrow icon and then click on Import calendar. Click on Browse and select the .ics file, then click on Import.
Apple Calendar: The file may open automatically with an option to save it to your calendar. If not, download the file, then you can either drag it to Calendar or import the file by going to File >Import > Import and choosing the .ics file.
International Criminological Unit Research Seminar
Professor Eric Chui
Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong
In its principles on conduct of the legal profession, the International Bar Association (IBA) states that as a fundamental principle “a lawyer shall at all times maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity and fairness [emphasis added] toward the lawyer’s clients, the court, colleagues and all those with whom the lawyer comes into professional contact” (IBA, 2011, p.5). This study used a mixed-methods approach to examine the perceptions of fairness and satisfaction young offenders have towards their lawyers in the Hong Kong criminal justice system, drawing on procedural justice theory. The main idea behind procedural justice theory is that the process by which people are treated is more important than the outcome that they receive. In turn, satisfaction with the process often leads to perceptions that the justice system is legitimate and legitimacy leads to deference to authorities and adherence to their decisions.
To add to the limited literature and to extend the study of procedural justice to lawyer-client interactions, a sample of 168 young offenders aged between 14 to 21 years old was surveyed in Hong Kong. Regression analyses indicated that participants who had private lawyers were more satisfied compared to those who had duty lawyers. Two elements of procedural justice, participation and trustworthiness, demonstrated the strongest influence on youths’ satisfaction with their lawyers. Supplementary interviews with 30 young defendants further explained the discrepancy, revealing that the limited amount of time spent by duty lawyers in meetings and their detached focus contributed to clients’ low perceptions of participation and trustworthiness. By uncovering areas where participants felt that they were treated in a procedurally unfair way, and why they felt this way, we can identify areas of improvement in the lawyer-client relationship, especially between lawyers and youth clients.
Professor Eric Chui
Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong
In its principles on conduct of the legal profession, the International Bar Association (IBA) states that as a fundamental principle “a lawyer shall at all times maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity and fairness [emphasis added] toward the lawyer’s clients, the court, colleagues and all those with whom the lawyer comes into professional contact” (IBA, 2011, p.5). This study used a mixed-methods approach to examine the perceptions of fairness and satisfaction young offenders have towards their lawyers in the Hong Kong criminal justice system, drawing on procedural justice theory. The main idea behind procedural justice theory is that the process by which people are treated is more important than the outcome that they receive. In turn, satisfaction with the process often leads to perceptions that the justice system is legitimate and legitimacy leads to deference to authorities and adherence to their decisions.
To add to the limited literature and to extend the study of procedural justice to lawyer-client interactions, a sample of 168 young offenders aged between 14 to 21 years old was surveyed in Hong Kong. Regression analyses indicated that participants who had private lawyers were more satisfied compared to those who had duty lawyers. Two elements of procedural justice, participation and trustworthiness, demonstrated the strongest influence on youths’ satisfaction with their lawyers. Supplementary interviews with 30 young defendants further explained the discrepancy, revealing that the limited amount of time spent by duty lawyers in meetings and their detached focus contributed to clients’ low perceptions of participation and trustworthiness. By uncovering areas where participants felt that they were treated in a procedurally unfair way, and why they felt this way, we can identify areas of improvement in the lawyer-client relationship, especially between lawyers and youth clients.