Understand better justice
Insights and deep understanding about the importance of legal capability in achieving just outcomes.
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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.
A Victoria-wide survey to understand how people see, understand and engage with the law.
Exploring targeted and effective people-centred services that are meeting legal needs across the Victorian justice and legal assistance sector.
Recent publications
Explore our range of publications interrogating the legal need, capability and access to justice.
A PULS In brief publication about the resolution and outcomes of family problems exploring how Victorians experience and resolve their family problems.
A PULS In brief publication about the prevalence and impact of family problems exploring how Victorians experience and resolve their family problems.
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.
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.
Research News
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.
Legal capability and relevant measures
Our legal capability measures that can be used to form policy insights is central to our research.
The Research Team
Victoria Law Foundation's highly-skilled research team have many years of experience in legal research.
How Victorians experience and resolve family problems
Our companion PULS In brief publications reveal that family problems, though less common, are Victoria’s most damaging legal issues with the highest unmet need.