JusLab – Justice Lab

JusGov’s Justice Lab is designed to bridge the gap between academia and legal practice by offering a forum for discussion and collaboration among legal scholars and practitioners (including judges, attorneys, court officials, policy makers and civil society organisations), with the goal of contributing to create a more effective and humane justice system.

It aims to develop original research, test new ideas, and provide expertise to policymakers on avenues for legal reform, drawing on previous and ongoing research projects. Its research will focus on three main subjects:

1. Judicial Decision-Making;
2. Court Innovation;
3. Justice and Social Change (comprising multilevel jurisdictions studies and family conflict).

Under the 1st heading, the group will explore the process of judicial decision-making (in particular, fact-finding and evidence assessment), judicial attitudes, the judicial process, judicial appointments, training and education of judges and attorneys.

Under the 2nd heading, the group will conduct research designed to help plan, implement and evaluate new policies, practices, and technologies that can better respond to the challenges of a Justice 4.0.

Under the 3rd heading, the group will study the challenges to the justice system brought about by social change, including cross-border family lives, Diasporas and cultural diversity, multilevel jurisdictions, etc.

These research topics are covered by a number of projects which are ongoing or pending funding, such as C.L.A.S.S.4EU (which involves training sessions on family law regulations for Cross-border Lawyers and Social Services); LAN – European Legal Authors Network (to create a cross-border network of experts in Private International Law); InclusiveCourts (to assess the case law of Portuguese courts in cases involving ethnic or religious minorities and/or cultural arguments); Collaborative Lab ProChild – Against Poverty and Social Exclusion (focused on the judicial protection of children).