This may help...something i wrote 4 school
Formal equality is the equal treatment of all people (in certain defined circumstances) despite background, social/economic status or personal beliefs. However formal equality does not however ensure equality of outcome or the prevention of institutionalised inequality. Treating each person exactly the same is fair in that each person is receiving equal treatment regardless of their background etc…however the outcome of this may not be fair or equal. For example two women charged with the murder of their respective husbands, one committed this murder for financial gain, the other committed the crime due to long term physical and mental abuse from her husband – if the women are both treated as women charged with the murder of their husbands, formal equality has been achieved as the women are treated equally before the law – however the second woman’s abuse was not taken into account –therefore formal equality has hidden institutionalised equality as the treatment seems equal. A response to this is the provision of “Battered Women’s syndrome” in the Sentencing Act. This was first accepted in the case of Runjanjic &Kontinnen (1991).
Another example is the sanction of fines, if socioeconomic status is not recognized institutionalized inequality still exists, even though formal equality is met through the consistent application of fines. For example, fining a millionaire $5000 for a crime compared to fining another (who committed the same crime) who earns a small income the same fine is formally equal in that they both have received the same fine for the same crime, however the fine would have little impact on the millionaire and a devastating impact on the other person.
Formal equality also promotes institutionalised inequality in that it does not allow for a persons background or mitigating circumstances be revealed. This means that in many cases a defendant cannot afford counsel or specialist counsel and therefore is not receiving a fair and equal defence. Though legal aid is provided for some, some people are not eligible, yet cannot afford their own counsel (or competent counsel). Not allowing socioeconomic status to be recognised means that the defendant fails to receive an equal trial to that of the prosecution or plaintiff.
Similarly, someone who has received little education, or has language difficulties (under formal equality) is treated equally as they are treated like everyone else, however, they are disadvantaged in that they may not understand the proceedings or be ignorant of the law, not taking this into consideration under formal equality means that equality of outcome and opportunity have not been met.
This concept was explored by Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC)'s Equality before the law reports (ALRC 67 and ALRC 69 Parts I and II) where it quotes “Equality before the law means more than merely formal equality or equal treatment. True equality requires a legal system in which women's needs and experience are understood. Law cannot work in a vacuum. It must take account of the social, economic and political environment in which women live if equality before the law is to exist” highlighting that formal equality is not the only form of equality and does not ensure equality before the law.