Management Group

Dr. Melina Buckley

Project Advisor

Dr. Buckley is a well-respected Canadian lawyer and legal consultant, having developed national recognition through high profile test case litigation before the Supreme Court of Canada and provincial Courts of Appeal, as well as national legal research and law reform initiatives. A significant portion of legal research practice has focused on examining issues of justice system functioning and enhancing access to justice through improved case handling, improved procedures, alternative dispute resolution methods, increased collaboration between stakeholders within the justice system and coordinated system-wide improvements. Most notable is her role as Project Director for the Canadian Bar Associations national Systems of Civil Justice Task Force which reviewed and made recommendations for improving civil justice systems across Canada.

Dr. Buckley has significant experience in organizing and facilitating consultative approaches. In the CBA Systems of Civil Justice research, it was recognized that justice system issues are complex and that proper analysis and successful reform requires the involvement of all involved in the civil justice system: users, lawyers, judges, legal educators, court administrators, government agencies. Dr. Buckley was responsible for bringing together the different stakeholders and organizing regional and national consultation workshops. She has also organized national forums drawing together from a broad spectrum of society and educating the public on legal issues such as with West Coast LEAF’s Transforming Women’s Future: Equality Rights in the New Century, in 1999.

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