Argentine lawyers consider the justice system slow. A survey conducted by the Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ) and the Public College of the Lawyers of the Federal Capital (CPACF) revealed that 75% of lawyers surveyed described the judicial system as 'slow' or 'very slow', rating its performance an average of 5 out of 10. The survey, titled 'What do lawyers think about the functioning of Justice?', consulted 2,118 lawyers practicing in the national and federal courts in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Their opinions were collected on five key axes: procedural times, quality of sentences, performance of judges, regulation of professional fees, and communication with courts and tribunals. Key findings show that most lawyers have a medium level of satisfaction with the functioning of the justice system. However, there is also a moderate distrust of judicial independence, with an average rating of 4.6, and approximately 1 in 10 selected the option 'not independent at all'. Procedural times are a major focus of criticism, with over 75% of respondents labeling processing times as 'slow' or 'very slow'. There is also a negative perception regarding the time it takes for precautionary measures to be granted, as 58.6% of those who requested them considered they are issued in excessively long periods. This perception is most prominent among litigants in the Economic Criminal, Social Security, and Labor courts. Additionally, 40% of lawyers believe professional fees are below legal parameters, a perception most marked among law firm partners (48.2%), independent lawyers (47.6%), and representatives of civil society organizations (46.2%). The Labor, Social Security, and Federal Civil and Commercial courts had the highest concentration of negative perceptions on this point (89.5%, 84.4%, and 82.3%, respectively). 79% of lawyers reported having observed situations that could constitute poor performance (mainly related to excessive delays, lack of law application, and partiality in decisions), but only 3.5% filed a complaint with the Council of the Judiciary. Among those who did not, distrust in the body's ability to act appropriately prevails (59%). The technical quality of sentences received intermediate ratings, with nearly 40% giving positive opinions, 45.8% considering them regular, and a little over 15% evaluating them negatively. 'This first approach to the perspectives of lawyers is essential to sharpen the reform proposals that ACIJ and CPACF make as part of our daily work in pursuit of quality Justice,' the report concludes.
