Published in Harkness, Petersen, Bowden, Pederson and Donnermeyer (eds.), Encyclopedia of Rural Crime. (2022, Bristol, UK, Bristol University Press). The meaning and importance of access to legal representation Access to legal representation refers to the ability of a defendant in a criminal case to talk privately with a lawyer. Such access can be very important for defendants because confronting a criminal charge in court is complicated. Rules of criminal procedure and the criminal codes that stipulate punishments and sentences are generally mysterious to laypeople. Criminal defense attorneys are professionals trained to understand legal systems and to provide confidential advice to people facing prosecution. As such, access to legal representation can be critical to assuring defendants receive justice.