A new University of Otago report has found significant barriers to accessing legal aid are often too great to overcome. The number of lawyers registered to provide civil legal aid is on the decline, dropping a massive 54 per cent between 2011 and 2016 and not all registered to provide civil legal aid will actually do so. The study also found legal services are unevenly distributed through the country so accessibility depends on where you live. Kathryn Ryan speaks with the lead author the report - Director of the Legal Issues Centre at University of Otago's Law Faculty Dr Bridgette Toy-Cronin.