2026 International Access to Justice Forum

From 28 to 30 October 2026, this three-day gathering will bring together a global community of access to justice leaders including:

• scholars
• practitioners
• policy makers
• court and dispute resolution experts
• educators
• technologists
• community representatives.

Together we will share knowledge, explore new ideas, and work towards practical solutions to improve civil justice systems.

Why attend

Building on the legacy of recent Forums in New York (2025), Toronto (2024), and Irvine (2023), the Melbourne Forum will continue the tradition of cross-border dialogue, collaborative learning, and innovation.

• The 2025 Forum in New York, hosted by NYU and Fordham Law Schools, featured more than 35 panels, plenaries, and breakout sessions on topics such as AI, democratic governance, legal empowerment, and system reform.
• The 2024 Forum in Toronto highlighted global access to justice trends alongside local insights including Victoria’s research on legal need and capability through the PULS project.
• The 2023 Forum at UCI Law provided a platform for innovation across areas such as legal technology, climate justice, regulatory reform, and legal education.

What to expect

Although the program is still in development, participants can look forward to:

• inspiring plenary sessions with leaders in law, policy, academia, and community justice from across the world
• dynamic breakout panels and workshops exploring innovative research, emerging tools including legal technology and digitisation, pathways to person-centred justice, and intersections with climate, inequality and democratic integrity
• cross-sector and international networking that fosters collaboration between researchers, legal aid providers, community leaders, and justice innovators
• a distinctly Melbourne experience with sessions grounded in Victoria’s justice ecosystem, community legal sector, and research leadership while also contributing to the global access to justice conversation.

Who should attend

This Forum is for anyone interested in advancing access to justice, including:

• legal academics and researchers
• community and public interest lawyers
• court and tribunal officials
• justice technology innovators and service designers
• policymakers and civil society advocates
• educators and students across law and allied disciplines.

Register for information

Program themes, featured speakers, session formats, and participation options will be announced in the coming months.

If you would like to stay up to date and be among the first to receive details when registration opens, please complete our Register for Information form.

By signing up, you will receive:

• early announcements about the program and speakers
• updates on key dates including when registration opens
• practical information about travel, accommodation, and opportunities to participate.