"In mid-March 2020 Australia and New Zealand began going into lockdown. The courts, however, could not. The change to remote, audio-visual hearings of all cases has been a technological, psychological and personal challenge for everyone involved in legal proceedings. It has had to ensure that the new medium for hearings conforms with the principle of open justice. As we look to the other side, what does the future hold for justice in a viral world?" - The Hon Justice Steven Rares, AIJA President.

Join us in partnership with the Law Society of New South Wales for five weekly online sessions every Wednesday from 26 August 2020 - 30 September 2020 as we explore how everyone has adapted, how we have been affected both professionally and emotionally, what we can do better and what changes will come out of this in the long term.

The conference will run as webcasts on the following dates, from 5.00pm to 7.00pm:

• Wednesday 26 August 2020 - What have we learnt that can improve the use of technology for court and tribunal hearings?
• Wednesday 2 September 2020 - The different sociological and neurological impacts of virtual or online courts
• Wednesday 16 September 2020 - Moving Court Hearings Online: The benefits, challenges and lessons learned from those that provide and support the technology
• Wednesday 23 September 2020 - The impact of current restrictions on the principle of open justice and access to the courts and tribunals
• Wednesday 30 September 2020 - The future for the administration of justice

Click here for more information about the program and the speakers.

Click here to register. Registrations can be purchased at rate of $99 per session (or $149 for non-members), or a conference pass including access to all five sessions can be purchased for $399 (or $699 for non-members). Each session also offers 1.5 CPD points. AIJA Members should contact the Secretariat, or look at the latest newsletter, for instructions on obtaining the reduced Members' rate.