THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 84 | AUGUST 2025 Oklahoma Bar Foundation News Bridging the Justice Gap: What We Learned From the 2024 Legal Needs Survey WHEN IT COMES TO increasing access to justice in Oklahoma, there’s no substitute for listening. Listening to the stories, obstacles and opportunities that exist in our state. The Oklahoma Bar Foundation recently completed its 2024 Promoting Access to Justice Survey. The survey was wide-reaching and designed to identify and understand the most pressing legal needs across the state. Drawing on data from all 77 counties and insights from more than 1,000 Oklahoma attorneys, the survey report sheds new light on where gaps in legal services persist and what solutions hold the most promise. This survey is another important step in ensuring the OBF’s grantmaking and programming goals align with the real-world needs experienced by Oklahomans, as observed by the attorneys who serve them. Legal professionals across the state responded to our survey, which divided the state into eight different regions. The survey showed populations in the northwest, southeast and southwest regions are underserved in terms of IOLTA dollars. Access to justice has already been identified as a critical priority in these communities, and our findings provide a clear direction for bringing essential legal resources to close the justice gap for all Oklahomans. HIGH DEMAND, SHARED NEEDS The survey report confirms what we already know: Legal needs in Oklahoma are widespread and urgent. Across the board, attorneys identified four primary areas of consistent concern: Legal assistance for the elderly Affordable housing and eviction prevention Family law matters Immigration and citizenship issues What’s striking is how consistently these top needs were cited in all three underserved regions. While some slight regional variations appear, such as consumer protection and debt relief replacing immigration as the fourth most pressing need in the southwest, the broader picture suggests shared statewide challenges. COMMON BARRIERS, REGIONAL REALITIES Responses from Oklahoma attorneys also helped shine a light on the barriers their clients face when trying to access legal services. Unsurprisingly, cost remains the single greatest hurdle, especially in the southeast. In the southwest, lawyers noted that many of their clients are simply unaware of the existing legal resources or unsure of where to turn for help. Attorneys in the northwest emphasized geographic challenges, including the limited availability of legal aid providers and the long travel distances required to receive services. These insights reinforce the fact that there’s no one-size-fitsall solution. Improving access to justice means addressing both common statewide problems and region-specific limitations. UNDERSERVED OKLAHOMANS The survey report also underscores how legal access gaps are especially wide for certain populations. By Renee DeMoss
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