Understand better justice

Data and empirical evidence to understand legal need and capability.

Blank image
Short heading goes here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Blank image
Short heading goes here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Blank image
Short heading goes here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Our Research Principles

Our research focuses on the legal and related needs of Victorians.

Impact

We undertake useful research to support improved civil legal services for Victorians.

Rigour

We use sound methodologies and rely on clear evidence for any conclusions.

Collaboration

We work in a collaborative way with the legal sector, civil society and others in the interests of access to justice for Victorians.

Communication

We make our reports publicly available and engage with the sector on research activity.

Independence

We maintain our independence.

Our research plan

Our research divided into four streams, which each produce complementary outcomes.

Mapping justice

Looking at the availability and content of institutional data across a broad range of civil justice bodies, to understand how legal matters progress, see possible issues with legal processes and identify barriers to access to justice.

Surveying legal literacy

Discovering what Victorians know about their justice system, its institutions and the role they see it play in their lives.

Researching programs and interventions

Taking a rigorous empirical approach to evaluate the need for different legal services, as well as their processes, impacts and outcomes, so that we can figure out 'what works.'

Coordinating and sharing research

Connecting the justice, community and academic sectors to enable knowledge sharing, encourage collaboration, extend the reach of our work and help us to learn from the experience of local and international experts.

Research projects

Our projects cover institutional and general public perspectives.

Showing 0 - 0 of 100
The Public Understanding of Law Survey

A Victoria-wide survey to understand how people see, understand and engage with the law.

Measure for Measure: Tailoring Everyday Justice

Exploring targeted and effective people-centred services that are meeting legal needs across the Victorian justice and legal assistance sector.

Research News

Subscribe to our Research newsletter for the latest research publications, research events and insights.
We take your privacy seriously and will only email you with occasional updates. More details can be found in our privacy statement.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Research publications

Project
Clear
Type
Clear
Report summary
Report summary
Report summary
Research Paper
Short paper
Research Report
In Brief
Short paper
In Brief
In Brief
Research Report
Research Report
Research Paper
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Research Report
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Tag
Showing 0 of 100
Access to just this? Eligibility for legal aid in Australia and its implications
Research Paper
June 12, 2025
Access to Justice
Legal assistance
PULS

This paper discusses the challenges and implications of legal aid eligibility in Australia and calls for increased funding, less stringent means tests, and redesigned entry points to legal assistance, to improve access to justice.

June 2025
Research Paper
A New Perspective on Legal Need and Legal Capability - Report summary
The Public Understanding of Law Survey
Report summary
June 2, 2025
Legal need
Legal capability

This summary looks at how PULS volume 3 demonstrates that legal capability matters and suggests new directions for reform to enable public legal assistance services to best meet people’s needs.

June 2025
Report summary
Understanding and Capability - Report summary
The Public Understanding of Law Survey
Report summary
June 2, 2025
Legal capability

This summary looks at both the diversity of capability in the population and the range of problem types as identified in PULS Volume 2

June 2025
Report summary
Everyday Problems and Legal Need - Report Summary
The Public Understanding of Law Survey
Report summary
June 2, 2025
Legal need

This summary looks at key areas explored through the questionnaire in the survey and reveals some notable insights from PULS Vol 1.

June 2025
Report summary
Are legal problems bad for your health? Are health issues bad for your law?
The Public Understanding of Law Survey
Short paper
April 16, 2025
Health
Mental health
Disability

People with physical and mental health issues fare badly at law. Responding to the evidence through effective policy and practices could make a significant difference to many people.

April 2025
Short paper
The Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) Volume 3: A New Perspective on Legal Need and Legal Capability
The Public Understanding of Law Survey
Research Report
August 20, 2024
Legal capability
Legal need

The third volume reports on the links between legal need and legal capability. It investigates the impact and implications of legal capability on legal problem experience and resolution.

August 2024
Research Report
No results found.
There are no results with this criteria. Try changing your search.

Showcasing access to justice and legal need development

Connecting the justice, community and academic sectors around legal research and evaluation related to access to justice.

Informing policy and practice

Drawing on our research, we engage with decision makers across the justice and community sectors to share our understanding of the legal experience, needs and capability.

The Research Team

Victoria Law Foundation's highly-skilled research team have many years of experience in legal research.

Showing 0 - 0 of 100
Hugh M. McDonald
Research Director

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.

Bridget McAloon
Principal Researcher

With over 20 years of experience in monitoring, outcomes-based practice, and project management, Bridget is an evaluation specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health from Monash University, and is skilled in quantitative and qualitative measurement and analysis, and building evaluation capacity and systems. 

With a background working in international and community not-for-profits, Bridget previously led evaluation and research for over eight years at Victoria Legal Aid, driving evidence-based practice to underpin the design and delivery of effective, client-centred legal services.

Dr Bethia Burgess
Senior Researcher

Bethia holds a PhD in Criminology and Development Studies, and a Master of International Relations from the University of Melbourne. Additionally, she earned undergraduate degrees in Law and Arts from the University of Western Australia. 

Throughout her career, Bethia has contributed to teaching, research, and practice-based initiatives with a focus on addressing structural injustices, promoting gender equality, and supporting community-driven agendas. She has been involved in research and evaluation at IWDA, the University of Melbourne, the Victorian Law Reform Commission, and Our Watch. 

Bethia is passionate about leveraging data-driven, innovative, and transformative solutions to enhance access to justice and address systemic marginalisation across Victoria.  

Bethia was born on Gunai Country, raised on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, and currently resides on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.  

Yolanda Mansfield
Senior Researcher

Yolanda brings extensive expertise in managing research and evaluation projects in the health and education sectors. She holds postgraduate qualifications in Assessment and Evaluation, alongside undergraduate degrees in Criminology and Behavioural Science. 

In her previous role at the Faculty of Business, Governance and Law at the University of Canberra, Yolanda was an integral part of a multidisciplinary team that successfully completed a multiphase evaluation of the Australian Defence Force’s “Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2018-2022” and Continuous Improvement Framework. 

Yolanda's work is characterised by her commitment to rigorous assessment and evaluation methodologies, ensuring impactful and sustainable outcomes in her projects.

Zhigang Wei
Data Analyst

Zhigang joined Victoria Law Foundation in May 2024 as a Data Analyst.  

Zhigang has a PhD in criminology from Griffith University and extensive research experience working in various government and non-government organisations. He previously worked at the Australian Institute of Criminology, at the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, where he was one of the authors of the seminal Legal Australia-Wide Survey reports, and more recently, at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and cohealth.  

Zhigang is an expert in data analysis and drawing insights from large, complex datasets. He is also a published author of numerous peer-reviewed research publications. 

No results found.
There are no results with this criteria. Try changing your search.

Legal problems and health issues: insights from the PULS

People with physical and mental health issues fare badly at law. Responding to the evidence through effective policy and practices could make a significant difference to many people.