By Cat Woods -
The 2025 Justice Fellows were announced by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW in August. Five legal and adjacent professionals have been tasked with initiating and developing research into access to legal support, and systemic issues with equitable access to justice.
This year’s cohort includes Teela Reid (exploring the legacy and impact of First Nations Matriarchal advocacy in NSW), Alastair Lawrie (looking at a best practice NSW framework that ends non-consensual medical interventions), Regina Featherstone (examining trends in out-of-court discrimination settlements, using real case data), Vijhai Grayan (querying how AI can be safely and ethically integrated into community legal centres), and Claudia Robinson (comparing Australian and UK legal responses to economic abuse and the experiences of victim-survivors of coercive control).
The Justice Ideas Forum was held last month, too, allowing the 2024 Fellows to present their findings and recommendations for reform.
The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW has been at the forefront of improving access to justice for the community, especially those who face systemic barriers to legal advice and support. For 25 years, it has carried out independent research to inform and inspire those within, and adjacent to, the justice system in NSW. An essential new facet of the Foundation is the annual appointment of Justice Fellows, and the presentation of the previous year’s Fellows’ research findings and proposed solutions.
Olivia Nguy, Director of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, says, “Our inaugural cohort of Justice Fellows presented their findings at the Justice Ideas Forum in July 2025. The impactful outputs over 12 months really showed us the value of giving people time, resources and the intention to influence policy and practice. They offered a brilliant example of how we can accelerate promising ideas into real-world change.”
Since its establishment under the Law and Justice Foundation Act 2000, The Foundation has been dedicated to observing, researching, and reporting on the accessibility and effectiveness of various aspects of the justice sector, such as NDIS appeals, bail reform, tenancy disputes, and how community legal centres can respond in disaster situations. This year it received the APAC Legal Award for Best Legal & Justice Research NPO (Non-Profit Organisation) 2025 – Australia.
Nguy says, “Our biggest active concerns are the compounding effects of disadvantage, including health and housing insecurity, on people’s ability to access justice.”
“Everyday problems like rent stress, bills or relationship breakdowns can quickly spiral into legal issues, and complex legal processes can be overwhelming for people without legal support.”
The Justice Fellowships program is only in its second year. Annually, up to five Justice Fellowships are awarded to the chosen applicants. Fellows receive $10,000 to cover the resources they need to research their topic, the results of which are presented at a forum the following year. Next year, applications open in March 2026 and applicants must propose a current legal and access to justice issue they intend on studying, along with identifying what existing evidence is available, the impact on communities, and possible options for law, procedural or policy reform that may address the issue sustainably.
Nguy says, “Selection is made by a panel that includes myself as Director, our Research Director, and a board member of the Foundation. Last year we had the Hon. Susan Carter MLC involved, and this year, Professor Julie Stubbs. Both rounds have attracted many strong applications, so consensus has taken careful consideration. However, we’ve consistently aligned on projects that have a clear topic and objective, are underexplored, and show a realistic pathway to improving access to justice for communities in NSW.”
Justice Fellows are each required to commit between 10 to 30 days of time to their Fellowship, usually over a 3-month period (which can be extended on request). This time may include reading, interviewing, surveying, analysing, discussing and writing.
The expectation is that each Fellow will submit a written, evidence-based report (approximately 10,000-30,000 words). If agreed between the Fellow and the Foundation, other forms of report are also valid: audiovisual, multimedia content.
The 2024 Fellows’ reports are already available online. Will Cesta investigated why most people who need public legal aid are unable to access it, and whether AI could provide a means of sharing legal information, generating standard documents, and suggesting next steps. Or, as Cesta also asks, would using technology create new problems?
Arlia Fleming explored how language is a highly sensitive subject that can affect the experience of women attempting to navigate domestic and family violence support systems, and the responsibility of legal practitioners to prioritise safety, accountability, and healing.
Amee Baird looked into how people with dementia can access justice, and the relationship between dementia and crime, including how those affected experience police interviews and court hearings.
Nguy says, “The Fellowship outputs are designed to be actionable. In this first round, each report includes evidence-based recommendations and practical guidance that policymakers, legal services, and practitioners can use directly. We amplify these findings through the Justice Ideas Forum and publication series to foster the work’s capacity to inform policy and practice, not just academic debate. Already, informally, we’re seeing insights from the first cohort spark discussions about reform and service design across NSW.”
Nguy is modest about her role in inaugurating the Fellowship.
“I’m proud – but not because it has been initiated under my direction. I’m pleased because the Fellowships are an expression of the Foundation’s values: investing in people with bold ideas, centring lived and frontline experience and pushing for systemic change. If it becomes a lasting part of the Foundation’s contribution, I’ll be proud that it helped create a culture where experimentation, accessibility and accountability is part of how we improve justice for everyone.”
For those interested in applying for a Justice Fellowship in 2026, the following eligibility criteria apply:
People working in government, private and non-government organisations in the legal, justice, health, education, human, housing or other relevant sectors in New South Wales are eligible to apply. Applicants will have a current or previous association with any of the following NSW-based organisations:
- Local, state or federal government department
- Court, NCAT, or other tribunal or dispute resolution provider
- Legal assistance provider
- Private law firm
- University
- Other legal sector organisation, such as a peak body or commission
- Not-for-profit organisation
Applicants will have made a significant contribution in their current role. Justice Fellowships will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate experience and outstanding potential in advancing access to justice and improved outcomes for the community.
