Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Jess is a socio-legal empirical researcher, specialising in issues of access to justice and family law. She is particularly interested in innovations that improve the accessibility of legal systems as well as the empowerment and capabilities of those experiencing legal need.
Jess has published widely on these issues in a variety of leading academic journals and book publishers. One of her recent monographs, Litigants in Person and the Family Justice System (Hart, 2022), examines the issue of self-representation in the family courts. A key objective of her research agenda is to produce research and evidence that can make impactful improvements to the accessibility of justice. For instance, her most recent co-authored monograph Legal Aid and the Future of Access to Justice (Hart, 2023), reports the findings of the largest ever census of legal aid practitioners in England and Wales, and was published as an open access (free to read) resource that is being used by not-for-profit organisations and practitioners to support service enhancements as well as advocacy and campaign work within the legal aid sector.
Jess joined Monash Law in 2022 after establishing her career in the UK, where she previously held the position of Lecturer in the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, and prior to that, Sessional Lecturer at the Centre for Law and Social Justice at the University of Leeds.
Research interests
Specific areas of interest include:
- Self representation and lay participation in legal systems
- Family dispute resolution
- The role of technologies in faciliating access to justice, including blended/hybrid legal support and remote court hearings
- Legal aid policy and governance
- Innovations in advice provision and legal support
- Understandings of legal need, legal capability and legal literacy
- Family violence and legal systems abuse
- Socio legal theory and approaches
- Empirical legal methods and qualitative methodology
Consulting
Jess has an established record of consulting with the public and third sectors in the UK and Australia across her research interests. Previously she has undertaken consultancy work for organisation including: The Access to Justice Foundation, The Ministry of Justice, the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, and the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, University of Leeds
Award Date: 20 May 2020
Research area keywords
- Access to Justice
- Family Law
- Legal Technology
- dispute resolution
- Empirical Legal Research
- Socio-Legal Studies
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Exploring Barriers to costs disclosure compliance, effective matter scoping and adoption of alternative pricing models – Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner
Denvir, C., Mant, J., Grant, G., McDonald, H., Balmer, N. & Partington, A.
1/11/22 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
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Litigants in Person and the Family Justice System
Mant, J., 2022, 1st ed. UK: Hart Publishing. 177 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
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We Are Legal Aid: Findings from the 2021 Legal Aid Census
Denvir, C., Kinghan, J., Mant, J., Newman, D. & Aristotle, S., Mar 2022, London UK: Legal Aid Practitioners Group. 109 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Other
Open Access -
Vulnerability, legal need and technology in England and Wales
Newman, D., Mant, J. & Gordon, F., Sept 2021, In: International Journal of Discrimination and the Law. 21, 3, p. 230-253 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus) -
The mysterious case of disappearing family law and the shrinking vulnerable subject: the shifting sands of family law’s jurisdiction
Mant, J. & Wallbank, J., 2017, In: Social and Legal Studies. 26, 5, p. 629-648 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
15 Citations (Scopus) -
Neoliberalism, family law and the cost of access to justice
Mant, J., 2017, In: Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. 39, 2, p. 246-258 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
17 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Award for Research Excellence by an Early Career Researcher (Highly Commended)
Mant, Jess (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Dean's International Bar Association Engagement Scholarship
Mant, Jess (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Journal of Law and Society (Journal)
Jess Mant (Editorial board member)
1 Apr 2021 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Socio-Legal Studies Association UK
Jess Mant (Executive Member)
2016 → 2022Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
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Bristol University Press (Publisher)
Jess Mant (Editor in chief) & Daniel Newman (Editor in chief)
1 Apr 2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Victoria Law Foundation Knowledge Grant Assessor
Jess Mant (Reviewer)
21 Jun 2023 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Grant review responsibilities
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UK Government Consultation on Supporting Earlier Resolution of Private Family Law Arrangements - Evidence Submission and Response
Jess Mant (Contributor)
15 Jun 2023Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
Press/Media
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Family law bill is a big step forward, but doesn’t do enough to address family violence
30/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Government’s family law bill is a big step forward. But it doesn’t do enough to address family violence
18/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature