The High Court Act of 1861 was a British legislation that established High Courts in India replacing the Supreme Courts and Sadar Courts. It reformed the Indian judicial system by expanding jurisdiction and improving access to justice.It had a profound impact on legal representation and access to justice in India. Here are some key effects –

1. Establishment of High Courts enabled decentralization of justice, increased accessibility and reduced backlog improving legal representation and access to justice nationwide.
2. Increase in judicial officers enhanced judicial capacity, expedited case disposal and improved access to justice, ensuring timely and effective legal representation for citizens.
3. Simplified court procedures streamlined litigation, reduced complexities and increased efficiency facilitating easier access to justice and enabling more effective legal representation for all.
4. Increased jurisdiction empowered High Courts to hear a broader range of cases, expanding access to justice and providing relief to a larger population.
5. Enhanced judicial review enabled High Courts to scrutinize and set aside flawed decisions, ensuring justice, protecting rights and upholding the rule of law.
6. Growth of the legal profession led to an increase in skilled lawyers, enhancing legal representation and providing citizens with better access to justice.
7. Standardization of legal education ensured uniform training for lawyers, improving competence and enabling them to provide high quality legal representation and services.

Overall the High Courts Act of 1861 played a significant role in shaping India’s legal system, expanding access to justice and improving legal representation.