[SMULA] Reshaping Civil Justice: Courts, Technology, and Access to Justice

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Reshaping Civil Justice: Courts, Technology, and Access to Justice

SYNOPSIS

Civil justice systems in common law jurisdictions have undergone rapid transformation over the past decade, with courts, legislators, and policymakers significantly expanding the scope of dispute resolution beyond traditional adjudication. Procedural, technological, and institutional developments have intensified, making it timely to examine their access-to-justice implications.

This half-day event brings together leading academics and practitioners to examine how civil justice systems are reshaping the management of civil disputes. The discussions will focus on two interrelated trends. The first theme, kicked off by a keynote address by the Honourable Justice Aidan Xu, will explore the growing role of technology in dispute resolution and enhancing access to justice. In addition, there will be a discussion and update on recent Singapore civil justice reforms that give courts greater powers to manage cases and encourage early settlement.

PROGRAMME

Time	Programme
0830H - 0900H	Registration
0900H - 0905H	Opening Remarks Lee Pey Woan Professor of Law, Dean, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law
0905H - 0930H	Keynote Address: Designing Digital Justice: Access, Effectiveness and Confidence The Honourable Justice Aidan Xu Judge of the General Division of the High Court, Supreme Court, and Judge in Charge of Transformation and Innovation, Singapore Judiciary
0930H - 0945H	Tea
0945H - 1120H	Panel 1 – Technology and Access to Civil Justice Moderator: Dorcas Quek Anderson YPH Fellow (CCLA), Associate Professor of Law, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law Presentations: AI Developments and the Future of Dispute Resolution – From Agentic AI to Human Engagement Presenter: Tania Sourdin Professor Emerita, University of Newcastle, Australia Trust Calibration Challenges in Judicial AI: Understanding the Algorithm Aversion-Appreciation Paradox Presenter: Adriana Banozic Expert Advisor, UN Digital Public Infrastructure Safeguards Workgroup, Research Affiliate, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law Centre for Digital Law Judgment, Legitimacy, and AI in Legal Institutions Presenter: Lim How Khang Assistant Professor of Law and Computer Science; Director, BSc (Computing & Law) Programme, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law and School of Computing and Information Systems
1120H - 1130H	Break
1130H - 1245H	Panel 2 – Proportionality and Proof: Case Management, Evidence Control and the Right to be Heard under the Rules of Court 2021 Moderator: Chen Siyuan YPH Fellow (CCLA), Professor of Law, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law Presenter: Lionel Leo Partner, Restructuring & Insolvency and Special Situations Advisory Practices, WongPartnership LLP

SPEAKERS

Click here for speakers' profile.

FEES

Category	Fees
Registration Fee	S$343.35
Group Registration (at least 10 participants from the same organisation)	S$309.02
SMU Alumni (LLB / JD / LLM graduates)	S$309.02

All fees are inclusive of GST.

Please note that there will be no refund of any fees should the participant cancel the registration/ fail to attend the event. However, registration is transferable. Notice of any change in participant should be sent to SMULA, by 16 April 2026.

SMU Law Academy reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event. In such case, we will arrange for the refund of fees paid.

Registration will close on 16 April 2026.

DATE

23 April 2026

TIME

9:00 AM to 12:45 PM
(Registration starts at 8:30 AM)

DELIVERY MODE

In-Person

VENUE

Singapore Management University
Yong Pung How School of Law
55 Armenian Street,
Singapore 179943
Function Lounge, Level 4

LOCATION MAP

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PUBLIC CPD POINTS

3.5

PRACTICE AREA

Telecommunications, Media & Technology

TRAINING LEVEL

General

ABOUT THE SMU LAW ACADEMY

The SMU Law Academy has an established track record of providing the legal profession with high quality seminars and other opportunities to remain fully informed about contemporary legal developments in Singapore and beyond. Its carefully curated listing of seminars is developed with the profession’s multi-faceted needs in mind and meets the requirements of the CPD scheme. The Academy also administers the Auditing Scheme which enables members of the legal profession to consolidate and upgrade their understanding of the law by auditing courses in the School’s LL.B., J.D. and LL.M. programmes. For an overview of upcoming SMU Law Academy events, please click here.

ABOUT THE SILE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

Participants who wish to obtain CPD Points are reminded that they must comply strictly with the Attendance Policy set out in the CPD Guidelines. For this activity, this includes signing in on arrival and signing out at the conclusion of the activity in the manner required by the organiser, and not being absent from the entire activity for more than 15 minutes. Participants who do not comply with the Attendance Policy will not be able to obtain CPD Points for attending the activity. Please refer to http://www.silecpdcentre.sg for more information.

Jointly organized by:

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