Law Reform International Meeting of Minds

Staff, students and alumni from the South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI) recently met with leading law reformers, lawyers, judges and academics in London and Limerick to share knowledge and experiences around topical law reform issues and law reform.

The group which included Emily Conroy, Michaela Puntillo, Rachel Tan and Anh Caprile, along with the Deputy Director of SALRI, Associate Professor David Plater, met Lord Justice Nicholas Green, the Chair of the Law Commission of England and Wales, and Law Commission staff to promote Commonwealth law reform links. Olga Pandos, SALRI researcher, joined online. 

Associate Professor David Plater, Michaela Puntillo, Rachel Tan and Anh Caprile also presented on SALRI's role and work and the unique student contribution at the Adversarialism, Participation and Voice in the Criminal Process International and Comparative Perspectives conference on 22 June 2023 at the University of Limerick in Ireland. 

SALRI is an independent law reform body based at the University of Adelaide, the work of which has led to landmark changes in various areas to South Australia’s laws. The Law Commission of England and Wales is one of the peak law reform agencies. It has a similar role; it undertakes work to reform English law to make it simple, modern, fair and cost effective. Both organisations review and recommend reform where it is needed.

The Law Commission made SALRI very welcome and kindly hosted the alumuni and students for the day to learn more about the Commission's role and work. The SALRI team also talked to the Law Commission experts at length about SALRI’s recent and current work and impact. They focused on their experience at the University of Adelaide and the unique contribution of the Law Reform class at Adelaide Law School, as well as active and inclusive consultation with Aboriginal communities and law reform issues of common interest. Of particular common interest were issues relating to 'vulnerable' parties within the justice process.

The SALRI presentation at the University of Limerick, South Australia’s Experience of Seeking ‘Best Evidence’ for Parties with Complex Communication Needs: Why Lofty Good Intentions are not Enough, was well-received and prompted much wider discussion.