Public interest litigation serves many purposes: improving public respect for the law, increasing access to justice and acting as a check on the exercise of government power.

But the use of such litigation in Australia is often limited by punitive application of the law of costs.

While other countries move ahead in recognising the value of such litigation and facilitating it, Australia lags behind.

Come and hear our speakers discuss the current law on costs, how it is applied, the effects of the current law on public interest litigation and what the alternatives are.

Speakers:
Gary Cazalet - Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne, lecturer in 'Public Interest Litigation', and author of upcomin article on costs.

Vanessa Bleyer - Principal Solicitor, Bleyer Lawyers, solicitor in several public interest litigation cases including current Brown Mountain dispute.

Rupert Watters - Solicitor at Environment Defenders Office (EDO), principal author of EDO discussion paper, 'Costing the Earth - Costs in Public Interest Environmental Litigation".

This seminar is presented by the EDO in conjuction with the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH).

Registrations:
RSVP: EDO (03) 8341 3100 or edovic@edo.org.au