Australian Legal Convention
23 January 2026
The Australian Legal Convention, hosted by the High Court of Australia and organised by the National Judicial College of Australia, on behalf of the Council of Chief Justices, is an invitation-only gathering of judicial leaders, legal practitioners, and academics.
The event, held in Canberra 20-22 November, brought together leaders from across jurisdictions, academia, the legal profession, and the community justice sector to engage in a national dialogue to set a trajectory towards formulating practical solutions to current challenges of national concern. The ALC has been structured by reference to seven broad themes. In relation to each theme, the questions open to be explored through a combination of plenary addresses, workshops and informal conversations were:
1. What are the challenges?
2. What are the impediments to meeting those challenges?
3. What are the solutions?
4. What can be achieved within a realistic timeframe?
Chief Justice Mortimer chaired the plenary address for Session 5: First Nations Justice, examining current and emerging issues within Australia’s legal landscape and exploring pathways for reform.
Justice Stellios contributed as a panellist in Session 1 Legitimacy, Workshop 1 – Courts and Declining Public Trust: Causes and Solution.
Justice Charlesworth served as a panellist in Session 1 Legitimacy, Workshop 2 – Open Justice: Courts and the Media.
Justice Perram participated as a facilitator in Session 2: Artificial Intelligence, Workshop 1 – Harnessing AI by Courts.
Video recordings from the Australian Legal Convention 2025 are now available for viewing on the High Court of Australia’s website.
