Evidence and Action

Victoria Law Foundation in partnership with Monash University, Faculty of Law, is proud to host the 2026 International Access to Justice Forum: Evidence and Action, in Melbourne from 28 to 30 October 2026.

The Forum brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and justice system leaders from around the world to strengthen the global community working to improve access to justice.

At a time of growing complexity and pressure on justice systems, the Forum focuses on the dynamic relationship between research and action. It will examine what works, why it works, and how evidence can be translated into real-world impact across different legal and social contexts.

The forum is distinguished by its empirical and outcomes-focused orientation. It creates a shared space for quantitative and qualitative research, evaluation, data and lived experience to sit alongside insights and innovation from implementation and delivery.

Theme: Evidence and Action

At a time of growing complexity and pressure on justice systems, the Forum focuses on the dynamic relationship between research and action. Distinguished by its empirical and outcomes-focused orientation, the Forum will examine what works, why it works, and how evidence can be translated into real-world impact across different legal and social contexts.

The Forum also recognises that action itself generates evidence. Learning from implementation, experimentation, and practice-based insight is central to building smarter systems, improving outcomes, and avoiding well-intentioned but ineffective reforms.

Why attend

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

The Forum also recognises that action itself generates evidence. Learning from implementation, experimentation and practice-based insight is central to building smarter systems, improving outcomes and avoiding well-intentioned but ineffective reforms.

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.

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