The International Legal Aid Group (ILAG) Conference 2023, titled "The Challenges of Access to Justice," was held from June 21 to 23 at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Organized by ILAG in collaboration with Harvard Law School's Center on the Legal Profession, the conference brought together legal aid specialists, including chief executives, managers from legal aid commissions, high-ranking civil servants, and leading academics from over two dozen countries, to discuss and improve evidence-based policymaking in the field of poverty legal services.
The conference covered a range of critical topics, including measuring access to justice, recent developments in the U.S. legal system, Sustainable Development Goal 16.3 and access to justice, crime and access to justice, assisting those ineligible for legal aid, and the justification for legal aid. Sessions featured presentations and panel discussions by experts such as Professors David Wilkins and Rebecca Sandefur, focusing on innovative techniques for fostering the development of thriving justice systems and exploring the relationship between age of parenthood and civil justice problem incidence.
In addition to the formal sessions, the conference provided ample networking opportunities, including a reception at the conference venue, allowing participants to engage with presenters and fellow attendees. Notable speakers included Professor Alan Paterson, Chair of ILAG, and Professor David Wilkins, Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School, who welcomed attendees and set the stage for the discussions.
The conference was particularly relevant for legal aid professionals, policymakers, academics, and researchers interested in the challenges and advancements in access to justice. Attendees gained insights into international developments, shared best practices, and contributed to the ongoing dialogue aimed at enhancing legal aid systems worldwide.
Speakers(36)
Adrian Di Giovanni
Adrian Di Giovanni discussed supporting southern-led research and evidence to close the justice gap.
Alan Paterson
Professor of Law at University of Strathclyde
Alan Paterson is the Chair of the International Legal Aid Group and a professor at the University of Strathclyde, focusing on access to justice and legal aid.
Alvx Mark
Alvx Mark co-presented on the relationship between age of parenthood and civil justice problem incidence.
Anat Horovitz
Anat Horovitz co-presented on the challenge of defending indigent clients in a world of global enforcement.
Andre Castro
Andre Castro presented on the Red Room Case, a landmark application of the exclusion rule in Brazil.
Anika Holterhof
Anika Holterhof co-presented on human rights-based and technology-enabled approaches to enhancing access to legal aid.
Avrom Sherr
Avrom Sherr provided an overall summary of national reports on legal aid.
Bianca Dufty
Bianca Dufty co-presented on early legal assistance in child protection.
Bonnie Hough
Bonnie Hough presented on California’s self-help centers in pandemic times.
Carla van Rooijen
Carla van Rooijen co-presented on steps towards an evidence-based legal aid system.
Catrina Denvir
Catrina Denvir presented on the relationship between age of parenthood and civil justice problem incidence.
Corry van Zeeland
Corry van Zeeland co-presented on steps towards an evidence-based legal aid system.
Isidro Garcia Mingo
Isidro Garcia Mingo discussed expanding access to the public legal aid system in Jordan.
James Greiner
Professor at Harvard Law School
James Greiner is a professor at Harvard Law School, focusing on empirical studies of the legal profession and access to justice.
James Teufel
Data Analyst at Utah Supreme Court
James Teufel is a data analyst for the Utah Supreme Court, focusing on measuring access to justice.
Jessica Mant
Jessica Mant co-presented on the relationship between age of parenthood and civil justice problem incidence.
Jin Ho Verdonschot
Jin Ho Verdonschot co-presented on steps towards an evidence-based legal aid system.
Katie Kelso
Katie Kelso co-presented on early legal assistance in child protection.
Louise Glanville
Louise Glanville co-presented on the cost of legal aid.
Mallory SoRelle
Mallory SoRelle discussed race, class, and democratic consequences of unequal access to justice.
Marcus Pratt
Marcus Pratt co-presented on exploring the importance of criminal legal aid from a Canadian perspective.
Martha Arkalis
Martha Arkalis co-presented on the cost of legal aid.
Matias Huhtilainen
Matias Huhtilainen co-presented on financial eligibility and legal aid in Finland.
Meredith Edelman
Meredith Edelman co-presented on the relationship between age of parenthood and civil justice problem incidence.
Mies Westerveld
Mies Westerveld discussed access to justice as a multi-layered concept.
Miri Sharon
Miri Sharon co-presented on the challenge of defending indigent clients in a world of global enforcement.
Neil Steinkamp
Neil Steinkamp presented on innovative techniques for fostering the development of thriving justice systems.
Pablo Aranda Aliaga
Pablo Aranda Aliaga co-presented on access to justice and comprehensive services for victims of institutional prison violence.
Santosh Snehi Mann
Santosh Snehi Mann presented on empowering Indian citizens through legal aid.
Sofia Libedinsky
Sofia Libedinsky co-presented on access to justice and comprehensive services for victims of institutional prison violence.
Susanne Peters
Susanne Peters co-presented on steps towards an evidence-based legal aid system.
Tarja Koskela
Tarja Koskela co-presented on financial eligibility and legal aid in Finland.
Tatiana Grieshofer
Tatiana Grieshofer discussed informational justice at risk through an empirical and textual analysis of information and advice provision in family courts.
Trevor Farrow
Trevor Farrow co-presented on exploring the importance of criminal legal aid from a Canadian perspective.
Wendy O’Brien
Wendy O’Brien co-presented on human rights-based and technology-enabled approaches to enhancing access to legal aid.
Yoav Sapir
Yoav Sapir co-presented on the challenge of defending indigent clients in a world of global enforcement.
Event Details
- Date
- June 1-3, 2023
- 3 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 The Hague, United States
- Harvard Law School
- Audience
- Legal aid professionals, policymakers, academics, and researchers