7 Julie Macfarlane - Champion of the Self-Represented

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 MacfarlaneDr. 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 CoveredThe path to legal academiaLegal educationEmpirical and qualitative legal workSelf-represented litigantsAccess to justice The cost of legal representationRegulation of the legal profession