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The Justice Research Centre

The Justice Research Centre supports the development of legal policy and effective justice system reform with high quality research. The impetus for establishing the Centre was that in the past much law reform debate was based on impressions and anecdotes rather than systematic and objective research data and analysis.

The Centre is recognised nationally and internationally for influential research which is characterised by a sophisticated policy perspective, combined with an empirical approach to issues and rigorous standards of quality, objectivity and independence.

The research program

Our research examines all aspects of the justice system including the policies that shape it, the behaviour of the people who participate in it, the operation of its institutions and processes, and its social and economic effects on the community.

The Justice Research Centre's research program is broadly focussed, across four major areas —

• the judicial process, courts and dispute resolution
• the legal profession and legal services
• human rights and access to justice
• compensation and insurance regimes

The Centre's research projects are addressed to significant — often controversial — justice issues, where our results make a substantial contribution to policy development and law reform.

How we operate

The Justice Research Centre is an independent public interest research organisation. Its research is influential because of its quality and objectivity.

Core funding is received from the Law Foundation of New South Wales, but the Centre is increasingly dependent on support from other sources. The Centre actively seeks financial support from justice system 'stakeholders' to whom our work has value because it improves policy development and law reform outcomes. The Centre has received grants and donations from the Federal Government and State Governments and from private sector organisations

The Centre's research projects are chosen in consultation with its Advisory Board, which consists of distinguished representatives of the judiciary, the legal profession, government, industry, and the research community. In selecting appropriate projects, great emphasis is placed on the likelihood that the results of research will have significant practical implications for important policy issues.

We welcome project ideas from others. However, the Centre insists on autonomy over the scope and design of projects and complete discretion over publication of results.

Advisory Board

The Hon Justice Ronald Sackville
Federal Court of Australia

The Hon Justice Margaret Beazely
New South Wales Court of Appeal

David Bowen
General Manager, Motor Accidents Authority of NSW

The Hon Justice Sally Brown
Family Court of Australia

Dr Janet Chan
School of Social Science & Policy, University of New South Wales

Professor Hilary Charlesworth
Director, Centre for International and Public Law, Australian National University

David Fairlie
Partner, Mallesons Stephen Jaques

Professor Marcia Neave AO
Faculty of Law, Monash University

Clare Petre
Energy Industry Ombudsman NSW

Bret Walker SC
Governor, Law Foundation of NSW and Past President, Law Council of Australia

Dr Don Weatherburn PSM
Director, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Staff

Director

Professor Ted Wright BSc LLB MA
Barrister & Solicitor

Research

April Chrzanowski BAppSc LLB (Hons)

Naomi Doncaster BA MSc

Ann Eyland MSc PhD

Ann Genovese BA (Hons) LLB PhD

Shelley Hampton BA (Hons) LLB

Maria Karras BSc (Hons)

Angela Melville BA BSocSc (Hons)

Carolyn Morris

Natalina Nheu BSc (Hons) LLB

Caroline Sage BA (Hons) LLB (Hons)

Administration

Sue Nicol

Research Associates

Dr Janel Chan
Associate Professor and Head School of Social Science & Policy, University of New South Wales

Professor Michael Chesterman
Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales

Professor John Dewar
Dean, Faculty of Law, Griffith University

Ms Beth Gaze
Faculty of Law, Monash University

Professor Rosemary Hunter
Director, Socio Legal Research Centre, Griffith University

Professor Stephen Parker
Dean, Faculty of Law, Monash University