Access to civil justice: where to?

Emily Taylor Poppe is Professor of Law and (by courtesy) Sociology at the University of California, Irvine School of Law and serves as Faculty Director of the UCI Law Initiative for Inclusive Civil Justice. Professor Taylor Poppe is an interdisciplinary empirical scholar whose research investigates how the regulation of the legal profession, legal education, legal technology, and institutional design shape inequalities in access to civil justice. Her research has appeared in leading peer-reviewed journals and law reviews, and she recently published her first book (Access to Justice: An Introduction), the first U.S. coursebook covering the field of access to civil justice.

In addition to her research, Professor Taylor Poppe is also active in law reform efforts. She is an associate reporter on the American Law Institute (ALI) Principles of the Law, High-Volume Civil Adjudication project and reporter for the Uniform Law Commission project on the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.

Before entering academia, Professor Taylor Poppe was an associate in the Private Client Department of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Associate Director of Planned Giving for the Harvard Business School. Professor Taylor Poppe holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Cornell University, a J.D. from Northwestern University (Pritzker) School of Law, and A.B. degrees in Public Policy and Spanish from Duke University.

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Studying legal need and capability from every angle, Hugh has worked on several landmark access to justice and legal needs projects. 

Previously at the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW for 15 years, Hugh joined Victoria Law Foundation in September 2019 as Principal Researcher, taking on the Research Director role in August 2024. He led the Foundation’s Data Mapping Project, a sustained examination of the use and utility of Victoria’s civil justice data and continues to work on the Public Understanding of Law Survey.

Throughout his career, Hugh has worked closely with legal aid commissions, community legal centres, and state and federal governments, giving him a deep understanding of legal institutions and access to justice issues throughout Australia.

Lynne leads the Victoria Law Foundation team. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the fields of communications, journalism and management.

For 16 years, she worked with ABC Radio, including a stint hosting The Law Report on Radio National. She has also worked at the ACCC, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Ombudsman and as a consultant. She has degrees in Law and English from the University of Western Australia and holds qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Community Directors Australia and has attended the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership.