Ms Janet Grumley

‘Future JP’: Triangulating Doctrinal and Empirical Research for Evidence-based Reform of the NSW JP System’. Dr Janet Grumley, PhD | University of Newcastle

Dr Janet Grumley is the driving force behind Future JP—the first and only comprehensive academic investigation into the contemporary role, challenges, and future reform of New South Wales’ Justice of the Peace (JP) system.

Supervised initially by Professor Lisa Toohey (now at UNSW), this groundbreaking doctoral research triangulates doctrinal analysis and empirical fieldwork to deliver seven evidence-based recommendations for modernising the JP system. It is a first-of-its-kind study of a vast and overlooked arm of the legal system: while NSW has approximately 45,000 registered lawyers, it has over 67,000 volunteer JPs—many of whom act as unsung gatekeepers to administrative justice.

Janet’ unique career path makes her especially equipped to lead this research. With a background in high-stakes medical research at major London hospitals and senior roles within NSW Health, Janet brought to her legal and academic work a deep understanding of rigorous data collection, protocol compliance, and person-centred service. After returning to Australia, qualifying as a lawyer, and actively serving as a JP—including five years as President of the St George and Sutherland Shire branch of the NSW Justices Association—Janet discovered a startling gap: despite their enduring presence in the legal system, there was no formal academic literature on the work, history, or future of JPs.

In response, she proposed and completed a doctoral project that has broken new ground, not just in subject matter but in method—adapting high-integrity research protocols from clinical practice to legal fieldwork. Her thesis excelled on examination with enthusiastic commendations from international reviewers, one describing her as “the pre-eminent expert in the NSW JP profession” and another stating that her work “could revolutionise the JP system.”

Now a leading advocate for JP reform, Janet is focused on addressing the decline in JP numbers, building a platform for evidence-based training and resources, and formalising their evolving roles in the justice system. She is a vocal champion for the economic and civic value of this volunteer legal workforce and is actively engaging with policymakers to advance evidence-based reform.

Keywords: Access to Justice, Civil Justice, Doctrinal Research, Empirical Research, Exploratory, Justice(s) of the Peace (JP, JPs), Governance, Multimethod, Phenomenography, Qualitative, New South Wales (NSW), Qualitative, Reform, Triangulation, Volunteer, Volunteer Standards.

Teaching:

Janet has a longstanding commitment to supporting JPs and JP education. Drawing on prior experience in clinical education and tutoring, Janet provided support in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, she initiated weekly wellbeing sessions for NSW JPs in the St George and Sutherland Shire Branch on the NSWJA via AVL. As a new innovation Janet this support developed into providing the first training via AVL of Q&A tutorials and preparation for renewal testing, which lasted for over 2 ½ years. This also included fielding questions from across the state.  She remains active in knowledge-sharing with JPs, legal networks, and access-to-justice stakeholders.

Research Output:

• 2024: University of Sydney Alumni Masterclass: ‘Legal Curiosity – Justices of the Peace in the 21st Century.’ 1 February 2024.  
• 2022: Law for OIC, Oxford London: ‘Historic Law Reform – Justices of the Peace.’ 22 October 2022.  
• 2022: ProfEd.com.UK Law Week at Imperial College, London. ‘Famous Law Reform.’ 23 August 2022.  

Previous Outputs:

• Steer S, Lad B, Grumley J, Kingsley GH, Fisher S. Association of R602W in a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPN22) gene with a high risk of early onset RA in a British population. Arthritis Rheum. 2005; 52:358-60. Presented at ARC Conference by Dr S Steer  
• Bennett, A.N., Peterson, P., Zain, A., Grumley, J., Panayi, G., Kirkham, B., Adalimumab in clinical practice. Outcome in 70 rheumatoid arthritis patients, including comparison of patients with and without previous anti-TNF exposure. Rheumatology 2005 44(8):1026-1031. Also, in Internal Medicine Journal. 35 (11): A97, November 2005. https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/44/8/1026/1772003  

Acknowledged: too many to list:  

Posters:  

• 2010: Conference poster: ISQUA Paris: How Eventful Was Your Hospital Stay? R.B. Sullivan, J.A. Grumley, J. Carragher, W. Pang; AU  
• 2006: Conference poster: British Society of Rheumatology ‘What patients want in a Rheumatology Service’, Grumley, J., Panayi, G., Kirkham, B.W.; BSR Glasgow. [and presented in London]  
• 2006: Conference poster: British Society of Rheumatology. Work instability, functional impairment and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Macedo, A.M., Oakley, S.O., Kaul, A., Davies, R., Grumley, J., Panayi, G., Kirkham, B.W.; BSR Glasgow.  
• 2006: Conference Poster: British Society of Rheumatology. Steer S, Lad B, Grumley J, Kingsley GH, Fisher S. Association of R602W in a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPN22) gene with a high risk of early onset RA in a British population. Arthritis Rheum. 2005, 52:358-60. [presented at ARC by Dr S Steer also presented in America]  
• 2005: Conference poster: EULAR- Sweden. Adalimumab in clinical practice-initial experience at a single UK Centre. A.N. Bennett, P. Peterson, Grumley, J., Panayi, G., Kirkham, B.W.  
• 2004: Conference poster: British Society of Rheumatology. Adalimumab in clinical practice-initial experience at a single UK Centre. A.N. Bennett, P. Peterson, Grumley, J., Panayi, G., Kirkham, B.W. [Also, poster presented at EULAR- Sweden]