Bring your insights to Melbourne

Connect evidence to people‑centred justice

Victoria Law Foundation, in partnership with Monash University, Faculty of Law, invites proposals for the International Access to Justice Forum 2026 (Forum), to be held 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. The Forum creates a shared space for quantitative and qualitative research, evaluation, data and lived experience to sit alongside frontline practice and innovation

Building on previous Forums in Los Angeles Irvine (2023), Toronto (2024), and New York (2025), the Melbourne Forum will continue a strong tradition of cross-border dialogue, collaboration, and understanding.

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.

Who should submit a proposal

The Call for Proposals is open to anyone with an interest in advancing access to justice, including:

• researchers and academics
• legal practitioners and service providers
• policymakers and government officials
• court, tribunal and dispute resolution professionals
• justice technologists and service designers
• community advocates and people with lived experience

What we are seeking

We invite proposals that contribute to improved access to justice by bridging evidence and action across four topics. Proposals do not need to fit neatly within a single topic area. Interdisciplinary, comparative, and practice based proposals are strongly encouraged.

Submissions, both published and in development, are welcomed from across disciplines, sectors and jurisdictions.

Topics of interest

We invite proposals that contribute to improved access to justice by bridging evidence and action across four topics.

Empirical research for access to justice: evidence for what works

• Measuring and methods to understand legal need
• How people understand, recognise and respond to legal problems
• Public legal education and information
• Inaccessible justice
• From research and practice to action

Justice systems and institutions

• Legal assistance funding, sustainability and services
• Court and tribunal access, performance and reform
• Clinical legal education: pedagogy, law schools and legal need
• Regulation and legal market challenges
• Institutional accountability and system performance
• Rights frameworks, state obligations and monitoring access to justice

Justice in a Changing World

• Legal technology for access to justice
• Artificial intelligence and algorithmic justice
• Legal innovation and exclusion
• Climate change, natural disasters and legal need
• Colonial legacies and structural inequality
• Justice, rights and political change

People-Centred Justice

• People-centred and participatory research and practice
• Community justice and legal empowerment
• First Nations justice and self-determination
• Social determinants and distribution of legal need
• Justice partnerships, integrated and multidisciplinary services

Session formats

Proposals may be submitted for delivery several session formats.

• Individual or collaborative presentation
• Themed panel discussion
• Interactive workshop or masterclass
• Poster display

As the Forum brings together people with diverse experiences and perspectives, proposals should support inclusive engagement, discussion and reflection across research, policy and practice.

Submission requirements

Proposals should include:

• session title
• name(s), positions and affiliations of presenter(s)
• Contact details for the proposal
• preferred session format
• relevant Forum topics
• a proposal summary of up to 300 words outlining:
• the focus and purpose of the session
• its relevance to the Forum theme: Evidence and action
• the evidence, insights, methods and/or experience it draws on
• intended takeaways for participants.

Review process and criteria

All proposals will be reviewed by the Forum Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will seek to curate a balanced and diverse program around the theme 'Evidence and action', across topics, regions, disciplines and perspectives.

Notification of outcomes will be shared on a rolling basis, commencing late May 2026.

Key dates

• Call for proposals opens: 23 March 2026
• Submission deadline: 22 May 2026
• Forum dates: 28–30 October 2026

Presenter participation

Presenters whose proposals are accepted will be required to purchase a registration for the Forum. Information about registration, travel, accommodation, participation opportunities and financial support options will be provided with acceptance notifications.

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