This report examines how administrative data is collected and used in the Victorian legal assistance sector justice system. It investigates what data is available, its accuracy and consistency, how data is used and what needs to be done to improve its ability to answer access to justice questions. Findings show that administrative data in the legal assistance sector is used for many purposes in both useful and innovative ways, however there are challenges to using it system-wide for meaningful comparative analysis. Improving the consistency and accuracy of administrative data will help better answer access to justice questions. Strategies to help unlock the utility of administrative data include: improving data quality and standardising practices; enhancing data leadership, collaboration and coordination; investing in people and time; and dedicated funding for administrative data work
