Joh KirbyExecutive DirectorVictoria Law FoundationMelbourne, Australia

Designing and developing plain language projects

My background• Appointed as Executive Director of the Victoria

Law Foundation (Australia) in April 2008 • A lawyer with an honours degree from Monash

University • Prior to my appointment as Executive Director

I worked as the Foundation's Grants Manager and as a lawyer at Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Victoria Law FoundationCore programs

• Grants• Publications• Education

Our focus• Improving legal

literacy

About• Independent

statutory body • Not-for-profit

What we want to doImprove public legal education through promoting plain language

Keeping it simple and positive• Keep the approach simple• Keep the message positive: Telling lawyers that

they are poor communicators is not going to work• Help lawyers understand their audience better

Changing the pitch• Appeal to your audience• Start a conversation about good communication

in the law• Focus on the benefits of incorporating plain

language

Our strategy • Getting our team on board• Getting everyone else on board• Getting the message out there• Ongoing support• Use research• Hope for some luck• Do it well

Getting our team on board• Plain language training• Staff mentoring and feedback• Developing a formal strategy known as the

Plain Language Framework• Integration with our programs

• Grants, Publications, Education including Communications program

Getting everyone else on board• Plain language training open to

the sector• Attendees are advocates for our

message• Spreading the word

Getting the message out there• Communications strategy• Control message• Consistent presence• Social media• Conferences

Ongoing support for everyone• Better information handbook• Publishing forums• Ongoing support to the sector

• Also see CLEO’s adaptation of the Better information handbook (2013)

Use research• Have more than one voice• Literacy research

• 48% of Australians struggle with literacy. • Literacy facts for Ontario…16% of the population

struggle with very serious literacy challenges and have difficulty with even the most basic written materials. Another 26% can read but not well enough to meet the demands of today’s society. Source: Better information handbook, CLEO, 2013

• Legal needs survey• Australian Bureau of Statistics

Some good luck• Creating opportunities, opening new doors• Conferences• Churchill Fellowship• Clearmark commendation• Academic journals and newsletters• Forums

How do we know it works• Being asked for assistance/advice

in this area• Increase in traffic to our website • Increase in the number of social

media followers in the area of plain language

Ideas to take away• Deliver on what you promise• Keep it simple and positive• Believe in your message• Provide ongoing support• Get outside voices to assist you – trainers,

champions, research• Have a consistent message• Hope for some good luck!

Contact detailsJoh KirbyExecutive DirectorVictoria Law FoundationLevel 5, 43 Hardware LaneMELBOURNE, VIC 3000AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61 3 9604 8100Email: contact@victorialawfoundation.org.auWeb: www.victorialawfoundation.org.au