Civil Justice Council Events and Conferences
2024 National Forum
The Civil Justice Council’s 13th National Forum, ‘Access to Justice: Working Together’, took place on Friday 29 November 2024 at Friends House in London and online.
Speakers included, in order of appearance, Sir Geoffrey Vos (Master of the Rolls); Heidi Alexander MP (Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services); Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill (Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales); and Director Rachel Rossi (Director of Office for Access to Justice, U.S. Department of Justice).
Topics covered included data, alternative dispute resolution, digital disadvantage, litigation funding, enforcement, the procedure for determining mental capacity, and the role of pro-bono.
You can watch the full event on YouTube. Follow the links to read speeches from, in order of appearance, the Master of the Rolls, Heidi Alexander MP, Lady Chief Justice and Director Rachel Rossi.
The full programme is available here. Sign up to our mailing list here to receive updates about our future work and events.
2023 National Forum
The Civil Justice Council’s 12th National Forum took place on Friday 17 November 2023 at Friends House and online.
The Forum focused on access to justice in a cost-of-living crisis. Speakers included: Alex Chalk KC MP (Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice); Lady Carr (Lady Chief Justice); Sir Geoffrey Vos (Master of the Rolls) and Dame Clare Moriarty (CEO, Citizens Advice).
Topics covered included: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Data, the role of Education in pro-bono assistance; Generative AI and Funding.
You can watch the full event on YouTube (external link). The full programme is available (PDF). Sign up to our mailing list (external link) to be informed about all of our events.
2022 National Forum
The Civil Justice Council’s 11th National Forum took place on Friday 18 November 2022. You can watch videos of all the 2022 National Forum on Youtube.
Sessions included advice provision, anti-social behaviour, business, costs, digital justice, education and public understanding, determining mental capacity, resolving disputes before court, tenants & borrowers, vulnerability and more.
2021 National Forum
The 10th annual event took place at Central Hall, Westminster and online on Friday 10 December 2021. You can watch recordings of the main sessions of the 2021 National Forum online (external).
2020 National Forum
The 9th annual event was held on Friday 11 December 2020. It took place virtually due to COVID-19. Amongst topics discussed were the effect of the pandemic, data and the future of technology and innovation.
You can watch recordings of the main sessions of the 2020 National Forum online (external).
2019 National Forum
The 8th annual event was held on Friday 6 December 2019.
Amongst topics discussed were vulnerable people in the justice system, digital support and public legal education.
You can read a full summary of the event and watch recordings of the main sessions of the 2019 National Forum online (external).
2018 National Forum
The 7th annual event was held on Friday 7 December 2018.
Amongst topics discussed were funding, the advice sector and the relationship between access to justice and mental health.
You can read a summary of the 2018 National Forum event (PDF) online.
2017 National Forum
The 6th annual event was held on Friday 8 December 2017.
Amongst topics discussed were litigants in person, mediation and ‘before the event’ legal expenses insurance.
You can find a link to the 2017 National Forum programme (PDF) here.
2016 National Forum
The 5th annual event was held on Friday 2 December 2016.
Amongst topics discussed were early initial legal advice, HMCTS reform and how the vulnerable access the justice system.
You can read a summary of the 2016 National Forum event (PDF) online.
2015 National Forum
The 4th annual event was held on Friday 4 December 2015.
Amongst topics discussed were providing access to justice in discrimination cases, new approaches to lower value disputes and the Civil Courts Structure Review.
You can read a summary of the 2015 National Forum event (PDF) online.
2014 National Forum
The 3rd annual event was held on Friday 21 November 2014.
Amongst topics discussed were judicial training, online dispute resolution and telephone advice.
You can read a summary of the 2014 National Forum event (PDF) online.
2013 National Forum
The 2nd annual event was held on Friday 29 November 2013.
Amongst topics discussed were the Welsh civil justice system, adverse costs orders and McKenzie friends.
You can read a summary of the 2013 National Forum event (PDF) online.
2012 National Forum
The 1st annual event was held on Friday 30 November 2012.
Amongst topics discussed were implementation of the recommendations in the CJC’s report, local and regional LIP agencies, plus guides and information available to litigants in person.
You can read a summary of the 2012 National Forum event (PDF) online.