People with physical and mental health issues fare badly at law. This report looks at the bi-directional relationship between health problems and legal problems. Data from the Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) demonstrates a clear and strong link between health conditions and the experience of legal problems. In particular, moderate or severe levels of mental distress are a significant accelerant. 

The consequences of legal problems are also investigated, and there is sobering evidence on the health effects, including high levels of stress and loss of confidence, as well as physical injury. In addition, other significant life changes as a consequence of legal problems (changing jobs, moving house) are likely to bear on mental health, leading to potential exacerbation of both legal problems and ill-health. 

The PULS measured legal capability for the first time, and analysis here also goes to the significant challenges people with chronic health issues and/or mental distress face in responding to their legal problems. People in these groups have greater legal need and lower capability to respond to their legal problems, and entrenched negative attitudes. Consistently across the measures, the evidence shows irrefutably that people with long-term illness or disability and/or mental distress have worse outcomes, and consequently their access to justice is seriously impaired.