Change of Date Language and the Law Conference – 1 & 2 April 2026
**CHANGE OF DATE**
Notice of a Conference
Hosted by the Northern Territory Supreme Court
on Language and the Law
and a Call for Papers and Presentations.
| Dates: | Wednesday 1 April 2026 and Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Venue: | Supreme Court of the Northern Territory – Darwin |
Who This Conference is For?
Following the success of the “Language and the Law” Conferences in Darwin in 2012 and 2015, and in Alice Springs in 2019, the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court are pleased to announce the Court will host the fourth “Language and the Law” Conference.
This Conference will be of benefit to interpreters who work in the courts, judicial officers, legal practitioners, court staff, police officers, corrections officers and other persons who regularly deal with people for whom English is not a first language in the context of court and legal proceedings.
The emphasis will again be on working with speakers of Aboriginal languages, although not exclusively so. The primary focus will continue to be on issues that arise in the Courts when interpreting languages spoken throughout the Northern Territory.
Following the success of the “Language and the Law” Conferences in Darwin in 2012 and 2015, and in Alice Springs in 2019, the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court are pleased to announce the Court will host the fourth “Language and the Law” Conference.
This Conference will be of benefit to interpreters who work in the courts, judicial officers, legal practitioners, court staff, police officers, corrections officers and other persons who regularly deal with people for whom English is not a first language in the context of court and legal proceedings.
The emphasis will again be on working with speakers of Aboriginal languages, although not exclusively so. The primary focus will continue to be on issues that arise in the Courts when interpreting languages spoken throughout the Northern Territory.
All persons working in this field are welcome to attend the Conference on 1-2 April 2026. We encourage you to register via our website at Language and the Law IV Court Conference Tickets, NT Supreme Court building – Darwin, Darwin | TryBooking Australia where you can also be kept up-dated with developments and receive details of the final programme. Please note early bird tickets are available until close of business on 27 February 2026. You can also find us via our Facebook page.
Focus Issues
- Court interpreting
- implementation of the National Recommended Standard on working with interpreters
- First language and dispute resolution
- unfairness in legal processes experienced by second language speakers of English
- improved practices in legal processes related to the use of non-English languages
Call For Papers and Presentations
Through the presentation of papers and workshops, the Conference will explore issues that arise in court proceedings, when interpreters are required. The Conference Committee requests expressions of interest from persons who are interested in contributing to the Conference by way of delivering papers, workshops or other presentations. To express interest in delivering a paper or other presentation please contact Xavier La Canna Xavier.LaCanna@nt.gov.au for an Expression of Interest to Present a Paper or other Presentation
