This seminar addresses the challenge of making justice more accessible and more affordable for ordinary citizens. Delegates drawn from all over the world share experience of responding to common problems in making justice systems fair, efficient, and responsive to the needs of socially excluded groups.

Surveying the large number of new initiatives in justice sector reform in recent years, the programme places particular emphasis on practical interventions, structural reform, and innovative practice. Both civil and criminal law topics will be examined, including the role of lawyers, police, prisons, and civil society groups. Key topics include:

• improving the speed and affordability of courtroom justice
• justice for vulnerable groups, including women, children, minority groups and people with disabilities
• comparative legal aid schemes: how to fund legal services
• the role of the legal profession, alternative dispute resolution, and other informal justice
• comparative experience with public interest litigation
• engaging with people’s courts and community justice initiatives
• the role of community law centres, para-legals and NGOs.

Participant profile
Topics under discussion at the seminar are particularly useful for policy-makers, judges, lawyers, police officers, prison officials, campaigners, journalists, and academics. All delegates are expected to have some knowledge of their own justice system, as well as a taste for innovative approaches. Delegates are encouraged to bring practical examples of good practice in affordable justice.