It’s really important that we understand that there are real people’s lives being affected by this crisis. It’s not just numbers. ~ Julie Macfarlane

Dr. Julie Macfarlane (@ProfJulieMac) is a recognized leader behind the idea that we should turn the attention of our justice system to the “real people” facing the challenges of access. As the Director of the National Self-Represented Litigants Project she has been heading up the charge to collect evidence directly from ordinary people confronted by justice challenges that can end up turning their lives upside down.

Julie also has impassioned views about transforming the legal profession, and the way we educate tomorrow’s lawyers in law schools.

On the subject of legal education, Julie’s story about her own path into academia is just epic. Trust me on this one: you don’t want to miss it.

Julie’s books include The New Lawyer: How Clients are Transforming the Practice of Law (2nd edition 2017 UBC Press) and Islamic Divorce in North America : Choosing a Shari’a Path in a Secular Society (Oxford University Press 2012). Her forthcoming book From Grief to Action: Confronting Sexual Violence (Between the Lines Press) will be available in 2020. You can read more about it on her From Private Grief to Public Advocacy blog.

Topics Covered

The path to legal academia
Legal education
Empirical and qualitative legal work
Self-represented litigants
Access to justice
The cost of legal representation
Regulation of the legal profession