About us | He kōrero mō mātou
The Civil Justice Centre ( CJC ) is a socio-legal centre focussed on carrying out research to enhance and promote access to civil justice in Aotearoa. Civil justice problems are legal issues that fall outside the criminal law. Access to justice is the ability of people to resolve their legal problems and enforce their rights.
CJC 's vision (ko te aronga) is that everyone in Aotearoa can have equitable access to justice when they encounter a legal problem and that they can solve their problem in a system that is responsive to their needs and upholds the rule of law.
We are establishing and hosting the National Civil Justice Observatory, a project funded by the Borrin Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Justice. This is a key aspect of the national strategy on access to civil justice, Wayfinding for Civil Justice.
Improving access to Civil Justice – Ministry of Justice website
Our Mission | Ko te uaratanga
We encourage transformation of legal services and the civil justice system through interdisciplinary research and engagement. Our research informs policy and practice. We study all aspects of the civil justice system including:
- Legal services – legal information provision, litigation in-person support, advice and advocacy services provided by lawyers, community justice workers, and the future of legal services
- Dispute resolution – adjudication (courts and tribunals) and adjudicators, alternative forms of resolution, and the future of dispute resolution (online courts and other innovations).
In carrying out this research we:
Focus on aspects of the civil justice system that people are most likely to come into contact with, and on people who face the most significant barriers.
Give voice to the people accessing justice through research and engagement.
Foster collaboration because we recognise that transformation requires diversity and shared commitment of many players.
Foster student interest and commitment to improving access to justice because we recognise transformation needs to be sustained over time.
Our people | Ō mātou tāngata
We welcome enquiries from students interested in the field of civil justice research. We are not currently employing any new fellows, but we do advertise for Research Assistants form time to time.
Associate Professor Bridgette Toy-Cronin
Director of Civil Justice Centre
Associate Professor Bridgette Toy-Cronin researches access to the civil justice system, including the delivery of legal services by lawyers and community justice workers, and the design of dispute resolution systems (ADR, tribunals, courts and online methods).
View Associate Professor Bridgette Toy-Cronin's profile page
Dr Kayla Stewart
Research Fellow
Dr Kayla Stewart has been involved in a range of civil justice research projects and is currently supporting the establishment of the National Civil Justice Observatory.
View Dr Kayla Stewart's profile page
Current research projects | Ngā kaupapa o te wā
National Civil Justice Observatory
We are in the process of establishing the National Civil Justice Observatory, an aspect of the national civil justice strategy, Wayfinding for Civil Justice.
Roles and responsibility for Aotearoa's non-lawyer advisers and advocates
Bridgette is undertaking a Marsden funded project on community justice workers such as McKenzie Friends and Employment Advocates, people of offer legal services, but are not lawyers.
Networks and links | He taura whiri, he hononga
The University of Otago Civil Justice Centre works collaboratively with a range of researchers, academics, professionals, and practitioners. We welcome enquiries for collaboration.
Current links:
- Faculty of Law
- Otago Centre for Law and Society
- New Zealand Law Foundation Centre for Law and Policy in Emerging Technologies
- Children's Issues Centre
- Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand
Contact us | Whakapā mai
Please note that we do not give legal advice. If you require legal advice, please contact your local Community Law Centre.
For enquiries
Email cjc@otago.ac.nz
Postal address
Civil Justice Centre
Faculty of Law
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand