News

The Public Understanding of Law Survey (the PULS) is now at the pilot stage and will be entering the field shortly, once COVID restrictions ease and we are able to conduct face-to-face interviews.

Thanks to everyone who attended an activity last week, whether it was a face to face session, consultation or an online event. We hope that you found it relevant, informative and practical.

Our Public Understanding of Law Survey is almost in the field, and we aim to speak to 6,000 members of the Victorian public to understand their experience of law from the bottom-up.

Discover how the law affects your life, find answers to your legal questions and meet the people who resolve your disputes and enforce our laws during Victorian Law Week, 17-23 May 2021.

Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Community Legal Grants.

the project is moving ahead at pace - we have developed a draft questionnaire and appointed a fieldwork company to administer the survey.

Following the success of our research network’s first international speaker we are delighted to welcome our second - Professor Rebecca L. Sandefur.

Congratulations to North West Area Mental Health Service which recently won a Mental Health Services award!

Over 400 members from across the legal sector joined us online to celebrate the new legal year at our 18th Legal Laneway Breakfast, our first to be held remotely.

Justice Connect have just launched their report, Seeking Legal Help Online: Understanding the ‘missing majority’ on how legal service organisations can improve the way they share information and tools by applying a user-centred design approach.

We are delighted to announce our Research Network’s first international speaker, Professor Trevor Farrow – a leading Canadian (and international) expert on the administration of civil justice.

Victoria Law Foundation are looking for a research partner as we move ahead with our Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS), groundbreaking research to better understand legal capability, attitudes and experience of law in the Victorian community.

The projects that were supported this year demonstrated potential to make a significant contribution to the community and legal sectors through investigation of a legal issue.

'Rights Limited: human rights in Victoria in the time of COVID-19' is now available

The staff and Board of the Victoria Law Foundation warmly welcome the Honourable Justice Greg Garde AO RFD as the incoming Chair.

The 2020 Law and You Forum will bring together a panel of experts to discuss the impact and implications of COVID-19 on our human rights.

Last night, the Honourable Hartley Hansen AM QC closed his last board meeting as Chair of the Victoria Law Foundation.

As well as containing a court, the Neighbourhood Justice Centre combines a range of services to address all factors that may lead a to person entering the justice system.

This report, funded by Victoria Law Foundation, highlights the particular legal needs experienced by the Victorian LGBTIQ population to support policy makers in better understanding.

We are pleased to announce the release of our latest report: Apples, Oranges and Lemons: The use and utility of administrative data in the Victorian legal assistance sector.

The new resources include a combination of topic outlines, practical tasks, and relevant recent case studies. Teachers can use these resources in their lessons, and students can use them for study and revision in lead up to their SACs and exams.

While the issues of unfair fines, scams and discrimination are serious, VALS have released a series of videos taking a light-hearted look at the common legal problems that Aboriginal people face.

Our first online Law Week was a great success. Thank you to everyone who attended a webinar, watched on-demand content, or signed up for a free legal consultation.

Law Week 2020 officially begins today, and we’re very proud to say for the first time in the festival’s 40 year history, more than 130 events by organisations across Victoria are being delivered entirely online.

We have remotely recorded the full session with Lynne Haultain and Mick Paskos, as they cover how to deal with media outlets and get your message across. The full video is available now.

To help meet the increased need for legal advice and support during the COVID-19 pandemic, Law Week - Victoria’s annual festival of the law - has moved completely online for the first time in its 40-year history.

We are thrilled to announce that the first release of Law Week 2020 events is now available.

Following the recent developments in Victoria’s COVID-19 response, we have decided to close our office in Hardware Lane until further notice.

Victoria Law Foundation's research team is about to undertake a new and large, complex piece of empirical research; the Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) to discover what Victorians know about their justice system, its institutions and the role they see it play in their lives.

We have made a number of changes to our program due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the LGBTIQ Legal Service released a new Toolkit for Community Legal Centres to assist them support LGBTIQ+ communities in a respectful and inclusive way.

Over 500 members of the legal sector gathered in Hardware Lane this morning to celebrate the new legal year at the 17th annual Legal Laneway Breakfast.

We are delighted to hear that Victorian Law Foundation chair the Honourable Hartley Hansen AM QC has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in this year’s Australia Day Honours.

Support for people in bushfire affected regions of Victoria will be prioritised in this year’s grants for Law Week events.

If you’ve been affected by bushfires, free legal assistance is available through Disaster Legal Help Victoria.

We sat down with Chair, Professor Arie Freiberg, to hear about the work of the Sentencing Advisory Council and the factors that go into sentencing.

This funding will support community legal organisations to better understand their communities through improved data and information.

We're mapping the administrative data collected and used by Victoria’s civil justice sector. What data is being collected and does it capture or undersell their complex contribution?

Reinforce and OPA produced two new brochures to highlight the importance of clear and respectful communication in medical situations.

A highly distinguished panel of experts explored whether suppression orders are supporting or distorting justice for our 2019 Law and You Forum.

We sat down with Chair of the Adult Parole Board, His Honour Peter Couzens, to hear first-hand what they do and the challenges involved.

Most Australians think courts are inaccessible and lawyers are costly, complex and slow to resolve problems. These are the key findings of 'Law…What is it good for? How people see the law, lawyers and courts in Australia', the first research report from the Victoria Law Foundation.

Connecting magistrates and lawyers with members of the African community to address their concerns about the high incarceration rates of African young people in our legal system.

Gateway LLEN has launched new resources in partnership with Victoria Police to tackle the issue of car theft and culpable driving by young people.

We sat down with former County Court judge Ms Jane Patrick to hear her insights and reflections on the role.

In his first major speech since 2017, the Honourable Justice Chris Maxwell AC, President of the Court of Appeal, explore...

We asked experienced barrister Nick Papas QC about his practice, some of his best and worst moments, and what it means t...

Victoria Law Foundation is delighted to announce two new appointments to our Research team. Dr Hugh McDonald will be j...

Video of Law of contempt - does it need fixing? If you’re involved in court proceedings, it’s important to unde...

We had a full house of 220 students attending from 12 schools, including some who had travelled from Hamilton. Law Week ...

Video of Cardinal George Pell – what next? The next instalment in the legal saga that has mesmerised and shocke...

Colourful characters, crime and consequence – law on the small screen is the second Law Week podcast by Victoria Law Fou...

Well, that’s a wrap! Law Week 2019 is done and I’d like to extend my warm thanks to everyone who came along to an event,...

The LGBTIQ Legal Service – part of the St Kilda Legal Service – is a finalist for Community Lawyer or Organisation of th...

Video of Warrnambool Law Talks 2019 Last week over 230 students from eight regional schools attended our Regi...

We are thrilled to announce the Law Week 2019 event program is now available. There are over 200 events across the state...

Get ready for Law Week, a dynamic festival of events designed to help people explore the law in fun and informative ways...

There was intense media interest at Melbourne's County Court this morning as Chief Judge Peter Kidd sentenced Cardinal G...

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of the Honourable Justice Philip Cummins AM. A much-loved frien...

We want students to get a Headstart on Unit 4 Legal Studies. That’s why we visited Bendigo with experts from the most im...

A play that explores a true crime murder of a gay student in 1990s America raises questions about the adequacy of curren...

Legal Laneway Breakfast 2019 - in 77 seconds! Video of Legal Laneway Breakfast 2019 - in 77 seconds! O...

It’s been a busy and highly successful year at the VLF, with many changes. As we come to the end of 2018, we thought it ...

Our grants program has long supported projects that have a significant impact on the lives of Victorians and the way the...

Lawyers from Whittlesea Community Connection are taking their coffee van, Expresso Legal, to markets, schools and librar...

The Murray Mallee Community Legal Service has developed two friendly and easy to follow videos for teens with an intelle...

Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s General Grants. The successful projects cle...

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a Research Director to lead the new research function at Victoria Law Fo...

Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to the board. We welcome His Honour Ma...

blog_image.png Words by Clare Kennedy For a few years, Kate Seear had been part of a group of six women regu...

Sport is an integral part of Melbourne’s psyche, but we don’t often question the way sport governs itself. The Law and Y...

It’s a terrible shock when a loved one dies, whether it’s expected or not. At the same time, there are many decisions an...

Our Grants program supports outstanding work by community organisations helping Victorians navigate the justice system. ...

Law Oration 2018 - Are Courts Soft on Crime? Lessons from the Victorian Jury Sentencing Study Video of Law Orat...

Recent changes in legislation and function mean some important change at the Victoria Law Foundation including - establi...

Forced marriage in Australia Video of Forced marriage in Australia This video was created with and for ...

With so many people and organisations involved in Victoria’s legal sector, it can be overwhelming trying to keep track o...

Victoria Law Foundation is committed to access to justice, and the use of plain language in the law is an important elem...

Victoria Law Foundation welcomes the passing of the Access to Justice bill which results in changes to its core purpose ...

Words by Clare Kennedy Unearthing buried nuggets is familiar territory to the Victorian State Coroner Sara Hinchey. Du...

Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to host this special podcast event to coincide with Law Week 2018. Listen to this one...

Inside the Court Network Video of Inside the Court Network This week Victoria Law Foundation spoke to ...

This week Victoria Law Foundation spoke to Youthlaw lawyer Lisa Nguyen, to find out more about Victoria’s free legal ser...

Credit: 'Old High Court of Australia building, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne', from the Mark Strizic Collection part o...

What is Confident Commuter? Video of What is Confident Commuter? A new website dedicated to helping pu...

On 7 February, sunny skies and more than 550 members of the legal fraternity opened the 2018 legal year at Victoria Law ...

What would a justice system look like if it put citizens at the centre? This was the theme of the recent Sir Zelman Cowe...

A new community service to address the legal needs of the LGBTIQ community will open in St Kilda with a record-breaking ...

Last Thursday night Victoria Law Foundation presented its inaugural community forum, exploring the voluntary assisted dy...

Posting on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter is usually harmless fun. But one place where you must resist the lure of soci...

In an Australian-first for the legal assistance sector, Moonee Valley Legal Service recently launched FineFixer – a new ...

The Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to announce that Lynne Haultain has been appointed as the foundation's new Execut...

This month Joh Kirby will conclude her 11 year term with Victoria Law Foundation. She reflects on how dramatically the l...

Victoria Law Foundation welcomes the release of the Government’s response to the recommendations identified by the 2016 ...

On Wednesday 10 May the Victoria Law Foundation hosted the Law Week Launch at County Court, officially opening the 2017 ...

Law Week will be bigger than ever in 2017 with a record number of events to be held across Victoria, all aimed at helpin...

Read or watch the full Law Oration here. Legal drama unfolding in the United States around US President Donald Trump’s b...

In his first speaking engagement since retiring as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, The Honourable Robe...

Victoria Law Foundation is pleased to have once again hosted this year’s Legal Laneway Breakfast. This year around 550 m...

Victoria Law Foundation was once again delighted to participate in the annual Comview Conference, organised by the Victo...

Congratulations to our General Grants recipients for 2016/17. We are pleased to announce that we awarded five grants for...

The Victoria Law Foundation’s 2015/16 annual report was tabled in Parliament on Thursday 27 October 2016. This is the fi...

Education Manager, Fabiola Superina will be presenting at Comview 2016, the annual conference of the Victorian Commercia...

One of the key government strategies to improve access to justice is the provision of online legal information services....

Victoria Law Foundation welcomes the release of the Victorian Government’s Access to Justice Review report. The Review, ...

A recipient of a Victoria Law Foundation grant has been nominated as a finalist in the prestigious film and media sector...

Media release Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal judge, the Honourable Justice Mark Weinberg, will offer invaluab...

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Video of Law Week 2016 – Victoria Law Foundation Building on the foundation of previous years, Law week 2016 was...

Founded in spring 2013, the Victorian Bar Community Choir is an initiative of the Victorian Bar Association's Health and...

Media release Victoria Law Foundation will hold a special event tonight to launch Law Week 2016 ahead of the week, which...

The rain did not stop more than 300 members of the legal sector coming together on Wednesday morning to celebrate the st...

Free legal advice, support and referrals are available to those affected by recent bushfires in the Otway Ranges in Vict...

Are you an enthusiastic and experienced Business and Finance Manager? We're looking for an applicant with excellent tech...

Congratulations to our General Grants recipients for 2015/16. We've awarded more than $170,000 to nine diverse legal edu...

Comview is the annual conference for legal studies and commerce teachers, and is organised by their peak body the VCTA (...

Victoria Law Foundation has a new five-year strategic plan, which includes a shift in focus in some areas. As a result, ...

This month we’re launching a new plain language legal glossary, available online and as a PDF. It might be of use to you...

The Community Legal Centre Fellowship was offered by the foundation for ten years between 2006 and 2015. The Community L...

As part of Victoria Law Foundation’s newly named Regional Law Talks program (previously Law Talks Intensive), over 300, ...

The Law and Justice Funders Network, hosted by the foundation in conjunction with the Reichstein Foundation, aims to sha...

It’s been an exciting couple of months for our Education Program. We’re pleased to share all the latest developments wit...

Media Release 22 April 2015 Victoria Law Foundation last night recognised more than eighteen media professionals for ex...

Discussing legal issues with a retired Supreme Court judge or police powers with a Senior Constable is not your average ...

Media Release 12 March 2015 – for immediate release Chief Justice’s Medal awarded to University of Melbourne law studen...

The Honourable Justice Susan Crennan AC’s 2014 Law Oration on Magna Carta, common law values and the Constitution, is no...

At Wednesday's Legal Laneway Breakfast, Victoria’s Attorney-General, the Honourable Martin Pakula MP, gave his first spe...

What are Human Rights? Video of What are Human Rights? Funded by a grant from the foundation, The Cas...

Media release Victoria Law Foundation has awarded $130,000 to four diverse legal projects aimed at helping people better...

The 2014 Victoria Law Foundation Chief Justice’s Medal for Excellence and Community Service was awarded to Melbourne Law...

Disadvantaged youth in Melbourne’s west will soon have help to contest public transport fines through the Sunshine Youth...