Charting the Impact of Academic Research on Australian Court Proceedings
08/14/2026 09:00 am
08/14/2026 03:30 pm
Australia/Melbourne
Charting the Impact of Academic Research on Australian Court Proceedings
Full Day Legal Forum in Melbourne
Friday 14 August 2026 | 9:00am to 3:30pm AEST | Deakin Downtown, Collins Square
Why this event matters
If you work with the law, study it, or engage with courts, this forum shows how academic research is shaping real decisions in Australian courtrooms.
You will hear directly from judges, barristers, and leading academics on how research is used in litigation, influences judicial reasoning, and contributes to the development of the law. The focus is practical. What gets used. What does not. And what that means for legal work today.
Event overview
Hosted by the Deakin Centre for Law as Protection and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, this in-person forum brings together the judiciary, legal profession, and academia for a focused discussion on the role of research in court proceedings.
- Date: Friday 14 August 2026
- Time: 9:00am to 3:30pm AEST
- Venue: Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2, Collins Square, Melbourne
- Format: In person only
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 6.5 hours
- Registration: Required to attend
Places are limited. Early booking is recommended.
Why attend
- Hear how courts engage with academic writing in real cases
- Get practical insight from senior practitioners and judges
- See how research is used in advocacy and judicial reasoning
- Understand gaps between academic work and legal practice
- Meet researchers, advocates, and members of the judiciary
Who should attend
This event is suited to:
- Legal practitioners and barristers
- Judges and judicial associates
- Law students and early career lawyers
- Legal academics and researchers
- Policy professionals and public sector lawyers
- Anyone with an interest in how law develops in practice
What you will learn
- When and how courts rely on academic research
- How legal arguments draw on scholarly work
- Limits and risks in using academic sources in litigation
- Ways to strengthen the impact of research in legal settings
Speakers
The forum features respected speakers from across the judiciary, profession, and academia:
- The Hon Justice Kristen Walker AM KC, Court of Appeal of Victoria
- Kate Eastman AM SC, NSW Bar and UTS
- Professor Paula Gerber, Monash University
- Professor Kim Rubenstein, University of Canberra, UTS and ANU
- Professor Kate Seear, Deakin University
- Associate Professor Tanya Josev, University of Melbourne
- Associate Professor Ronli Sifris, Monash University
- Dr Anne Carter, Adelaide University
- Dr Josh Gibson, Monash University
Program
9:00am
Arrival and registration
Arrival and registration
Opening session
Welcome from event hosts
Welcome from event hosts
Keynote address
Justice Kristen Walker on academic research in judicial decision making
Justice Kristen Walker on academic research in judicial decision making
Panel 1
Academic research in litigation and advocacy
Speakers share how research is used in practice
Academic research in litigation and advocacy
Speakers share how research is used in practice
Panel 2
Research in judicial reasoning
Discussion on how courts engage with scholarly work
Research in judicial reasoning
Discussion on how courts engage with scholarly work
Final discussion and close
3:30pm
Event concludes
Event concludes
Practical details
- This is an in person event only
- Venue is located in Melbourne CBD at Collins Square
- Full day attendance is expected
- No online stream or recording is available
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register?
Yes. Registration is required to attend.
Yes. Registration is required to attend.
Is the event free?
Yes. There is no cost to attend.
Yes. There is no cost to attend.
Can I attend online?
No. This is an in-person event only.
No. This is an in-person event only.
Who is hosting the event?
The Deakin Centre for Law as Protection and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.
The Deakin Centre for Law as Protection and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.
Secure your place
This is a free event, but capacity is limited.
Register early to reserve your seat.
Event Details
- Date:
- 14 August 2026 at 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Venue:
- Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2, 727 Collins St, Melbourne
- Campus:
- Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2, 727 Collins St, Melbourne
- Cost:
- Free
- Register here:
- https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1991426206391
- Categories:
- Research; Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
Description
Full Day Legal Forum in Melbourne
Friday 14 August 2026 | 9:00am to 3:30pm AEST | Deakin Downtown, Collins Square
Why this event matters
If you work with the law, study it, or engage with courts, this forum shows how academic research is shaping real decisions in Australian courtrooms.
You will hear directly from judges, barristers, and leading academics on how research is used in litigation, influences judicial reasoning, and contributes to the development of the law. The focus is practical. What gets used. What does not. And what that means for legal work today.
Event overview
Hosted by the Deakin Centre for Law as Protection and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, this in-person forum brings together the judiciary, legal profession, and academia for a focused discussion on the role of research in court proceedings.
- Date: Friday 14 August 2026
- Time: 9:00am to 3:30pm AEST
- Venue: Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2, Collins Square, Melbourne
- Format: In person only
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 6.5 hours
- Registration: Required to attend
Places are limited. Early booking is recommended.
Why attend
- Hear how courts engage with academic writing in real cases
- Get practical insight from senior practitioners and judges
- See how research is used in advocacy and judicial reasoning
- Understand gaps between academic work and legal practice
- Meet researchers, advocates, and members of the judiciary
Who should attend
This event is suited to:
- Legal practitioners and barristers
- Judges and judicial associates
- Law students and early career lawyers
- Legal academics and researchers
- Policy professionals and public sector lawyers
- Anyone with an interest in how law develops in practice
What you will learn
- When and how courts rely on academic research
- How legal arguments draw on scholarly work
- Limits and risks in using academic sources in litigation
- Ways to strengthen the impact of research in legal settings
Speakers
The forum features respected speakers from across the judiciary, profession, and academia:
- The Hon Justice Kristen Walker AM KC, Court of Appeal of Victoria
- Kate Eastman AM SC, NSW Bar and UTS
- Professor Paula Gerber, Monash University
- Professor Kim Rubenstein, University of Canberra, UTS and ANU
- Professor Kate Seear, Deakin University
- Associate Professor Tanya Josev, University of Melbourne
- Associate Professor Ronli Sifris, Monash University
- Dr Anne Carter, Adelaide University
- Dr Josh Gibson, Monash University
Program
9:00am
Arrival and registration
Arrival and registration
Opening session
Welcome from event hosts
Welcome from event hosts
Keynote address
Justice Kristen Walker on academic research in judicial decision making
Justice Kristen Walker on academic research in judicial decision making
Panel 1
Academic research in litigation and advocacy
Speakers share how research is used in practice
Academic research in litigation and advocacy
Speakers share how research is used in practice
Panel 2
Research in judicial reasoning
Discussion on how courts engage with scholarly work
Research in judicial reasoning
Discussion on how courts engage with scholarly work
Final discussion and close
3:30pm
Event concludes
Event concludes
Practical details
- This is an in person event only
- Venue is located in Melbourne CBD at Collins Square
- Full day attendance is expected
- No online stream or recording is available
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register?
Yes. Registration is required to attend.
Yes. Registration is required to attend.
Is the event free?
Yes. There is no cost to attend.
Yes. There is no cost to attend.
Can I attend online?
No. This is an in-person event only.
No. This is an in-person event only.
Who is hosting the event?
The Deakin Centre for Law as Protection and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.
The Deakin Centre for Law as Protection and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.
Secure your place
This is a free event, but capacity is limited.
Register early to reserve your seat.