Presenting ACJI's Inaugural Annual Lecture: Access to Justice in a Digital World
The Australian Centre for Justice Innovation (ACJI) was delighted to host its inaugural Annual Lecture on 9 April 2025 at Monash University Law Chambers.
At this event, Professor Naomi Creutzfeldt (University of Kent) examined the concept of ‘digital justice journeys’ and identified common barriers to participation in legal processes. She argued that new theoretical frameworks are needed to understand the digital dimension of access to justice, alongside the collection of empirical evidence to support theory-building in this area.
The discussion began by bringing together theories of access to justice, participation, and digital legal consciousness. Access to justice was explored through the challenges individuals face in navigating legal systems and accessing the necessary resources to resolve disputes. Within this, the role of participation was discussed as a key factor in achieving justice - particularly how individuals’ engagement with digital processes shapes their digital legal consciousness and overall experiences with the justice system.
To further examine the interplay between digital and legal dimensions, Professor Creutzfeldt drew on insights from social psychology, including the dynamics of insider and outsider perspectives within legal systems and their influence on individuals’ ability to participate effectively.
Finally, she posed a critical question: what makes a digital system legitimate in the eyes of its users?
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 9 April 2025
Time: 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Venue: Monash Law Chambers
555 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000
Speaker
Prof Naomi Creutzfeldt, University of Kent
Naomi is a Professor of Law and Society at the University of Kent. She teaches public law and socio-legal theory and methods. Her interests in administrative and civil justice systems and ADR (as pathways of informal dispute resolution) have a broader scope, addressing questions of access to justice, vulnerability, digitalisation and consumer protection.
Guest Commentator
Carman Parsons, Director of Impact and Innovation at Tenants Victoria
Carman Parsons is the Director of Impact and Innovation at Tenants Victoria, which is the peak body for renters in Victoria and a major service provider to renters. The organisation provides high volume information, financial counselling, social work and legal casework to renters in private and social housing contexts. It also provides training and support to other professionals and community leaders on renting law. Carman is an experienced manager and leader who has worked in the Victorian legal assistance sector for over 10 years on reforms to intake and referral, improving client experience, disaster legal services, online legal information and advice programs and diversity and inclusion initiatives. In her current role, she has overseen the development of a renter focussed research program, design and delivery of searchable, accessible and tailored information for renters online and helped to improve service offerings including through deeper engagement with client feedback and service data trends and challenges. Carman has qualifications in law, social policy and humanities.
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