The term “desert” can describe a region of extremely high or low temperatures with scarce vegetation. According to Mary Irvine ’12, executive director of North Carolina Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (NC IOLTA), in social contexts, “desert” describes a geographic area that does not have sufficient resources of a particular quantity or quality to meet the needs of those who live there. Food deserts describe locations without access to affordable, quality food options; childcare deserts describe areas without sufficient slots for daycare to effectively serve children in need of care.
“From my perspective, the phrase ‘legal deserts’ is a useful tool to start a conversation about how we can improve available legal resources and build awareness around the lack of access to legal services, particularly for low-income individuals and families in rural areas, and the serious consequences that lack of access presents for our justice system,” says Irvine.
