Bring your insights to Melbourne
Submissions for proposals have now closed. We look forward to you joining us in October 2026.
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.
Topics of interest
Our program will 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
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.
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.
Presented by
Principal sponsor
