Lawbore Legal Events Calendar
Featured Legal Events
London EC1N 2HH
Judges, who are typically drawn from privileged backgrounds, wield vast power over the lives of the most marginalised people in society. This lecture will explore the role of judicial racism in perpetuating injustice and inequality in the legal system. The Lammy Review found gross disparities sentencing for Black and white defendants – while also finding no systematic racial bias in juries’ decisions to convict or acquit. What should we do about racism in the judiciary and the legal profession?
Speaker is Professor Leslie Thomas QC, who was appointed Gresham Professor of Law in 2020.
You can register to attend in person 2 months before the event, or watch the livestream.
December 2021
London EC1N 2HH
Judges, who are typically drawn from privileged backgrounds, wield vast power over the lives of the most marginalised people in society. This lecture will explore the role of judicial racism in perpetuating injustice and inequality in the legal system. The Lammy Review found gross disparities sentencing for Black and white defendants – while also finding no systematic racial bias in juries’ decisions to convict or acquit. What should we do about racism in the judiciary and the legal profession?
Speaker is Professor Leslie Thomas QC, who was appointed Gresham Professor of Law in 2020.
You can register to attend in person 2 months before the event, or watch the livestream.
The first lecture in the 2021 Hamlyn Series will celebrate advocacy: that controversial legal issues are decided in court after reasoned argument in which the participants refrain (usually) from shouting, personal insults or threats, and the points on each side of the debate are tested for their relevance, their accuracy and their strength. The art of persuasion is now less valued in politics, but it remains of central importance to law. This lecture will seek to identify the central characteristics of good and bad advocacy with the aid of examples from courtrooms here and abroad. Though none of them will identify the machine by the secret use of which it was said that the 19th century advocate, James Scarlett (later Lord Abinger), "could always make the head of a judge nod assent to his propositions".
The 1990s, as well as the first years of the current millennium, saw the publication of dozens of books by rather influential authors and many more articles, all promising or foreseeing the withering away of the Nation-States. Such predictions of the demise of the Nation-State were related to the wave of globalisation in the aftermath of the end of the Cold War, the increasing role of multinational companies as well as expansion of the Western concepts where the individual with her wants, needs and preferences runs prime and State’s role is limited to guaranteeing liberties and security of individuals as consumers and producers.
If a century earlier these had mainly been Marxists who had prophesised the death of the State under the coming of the world-wide communism, now these were free-market liberal democrats, who predicted the coming of a stateless and borderless world, à la John Lennon. Yet, this time it would not be the solidarity of working classes of different countries (Proletarians of all Countries – Unite), but the greed of capitalists not recognising national boundaries, which should have led to the demise of the State. Like the communist utopia, promising a world-wide peace in a stateless world, the extinction of national borders as a result of world-wide triumph of liberal democracy and capitalism, was also meant to lead to the ascension of universal democratic peace. Although capitalists’ greed is, certainly, a much more concrete and tangible item than the working-class solidarity, it is not leading to a better or a more peaceful world.
This evening seminar series is sponsored by the Queen Mary Immigration LLM and Kingsley Napley LLP. It is designed to provide an opportunity to listen and contribute to structured conversations among practitioners in the field of borders, immigration and asylum law in the UK and internationally on key issues. The content and impact of the Nationality and Borders Bill 2021 where relevant will be taken into account. This series is designed for advanced law students, academics, policy makers and practitioners who are interested in the development of migration and asylum law and constitute a new stage in the cooperation between the QMUL Immigration LLM and Kingsley Napley.
What is the potential impact of the UN Global Compact for Refugees on UK asylum law and practice? A conversation between Adrian Berry, Garden Court Chambers and Dr Madeline Garlick, Chief of Protection Policy and Legal Advice, UNHCR. Chair: Professor Elspeth Guild.
In 2018, the UK Government enthusiastically endorsed the UN’s latest instrument to achieve better protection of refugees – the Global Compact for Refugees. In Parliament the relevant minister at the time confirmed the UK Government’s commitment to the new Compact and in the regional review of the Compact in November 2020 submitted a detailed review of measures which the UK is taking to achieve the goals of the Compact. This conversation between Berry and Garlick will focus on the how best the UK can live up to its Compact commitments in light of the Nationality and Borders Bill.
Joan Smith is a novelist, essayist, columnist and campaigner for human rights. She was Co-Chair of the Mayor of London’s Violence Against Women and Girls Board from 2013-2021, and is and a former Chair of the English PEN Writers in Prison Committee. Her latest book is 'Home Grown: How Domestic Violence Turns Men Into Terrorists'.
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
An important feature of the EU Withdrawal Act 2018 is section 6(5), which states that in deciding whether to depart from retained EU case law the Supreme Court must apply the same test as it would apply in deciding whether to depart from its own case law. This refers to the House of Lords’ 1966 Practice Direction, which permits departure from a previous decision when “it is right to do so”. In this lecture, Lady Rose will consider the ramifications of the adoption of this test and what it may mean for approaches to precedent in relation to retained EU law going forward.
A specific offence of domestic abuse was introduced in Northern Ireland in March 2021 under section 1 of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021. This represents a crucial development in Northern Ireland’s response to domestic abuse. The new legislation has the effect of criminalising coercive and controlling behaviour, thereby bringing Northern Ireland into line with the other jurisdictions within the UK and Ireland, and was necessary in order to allow the UK to be in a position to ratify the Istanbul Convention. Being the final jurisdiction within the UK and Ireland to criminalise such behaviour has enabled Northern Ireland’s approach to be informed by the legislation enacted in the other jurisdictions. However, although the enactment of the domestic abuse offence is certainly a very positive development, challenges may arise in relation to its implementation. Drawing on experiences from the other jurisdictions, this event seeks to explore the challenges which may be faced in implementing Northern Ireland’s new domestic abuse offence.
In addition to academics, the event should be of interest to frontline workers in Northern Ireland, police and legal practitioners. Those attending will learn more about the new offence and how to support victims/survivors. Issues surrounding identifying coercive control and gathering evidence will also be discussed. In addition, the event will provide an opportunity to network with those with experiences in other jurisdictions.
January 2022
Traditionally, constitutional democracy is based on protecting the freedom of citizens against the government. In contrast, so-called constitutional authoritarianism is based on protecting the people against the elites. So constitutional authoritarianism is a form of populism and a degeneration of constitutional democracy. Government leaders disguise a direct form of imposition by passing it off as a kind of direct democracy or popular will. The constitutional rights of liberty are thus seen not as guarantees for each individual but as the enemies of a section of the ‘vulnerable’ population, which authoritarian leaders would like to protect from the elites in the name of a misinterpreted conception of social rights. Recently, this authoritarian drift seems to be gaining ground even in constitutional democracies.
This evening seminar series is sponsored by the QMUL Immigration LLM and Kingsley Napley LLP. It is designed to provide an opportunity to listen and contribute to structured conversations among practitioners in the field of borders, immigration and asylum law in the UK and internationally on key issues. The content and impact of the Nationality and Borders Bill 2021 where relevant will be taken into account. This series is designed for advanced law students, academics, policy makers and practitioners who are interested in the development of migration and asylum law and constitute a new stage in the cooperation between the QMUL Immigration LLM and Kingsley Napley.
What are the challenges regarding the implementation of the UK's Commitments under the Withdrawal Agreement to EU Nationals living in the UK? A conversation between Kim Vowden, Kingsley Napley and Michal Meduna, European Commission. Chair: Professor Elspeth Guild
In January 2022, it will be one year since the end of the transitional period contained in the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and over six months since the end of the grace period for EU nationals in the UK to apply for a national immigration status to replace their former EU one. As the Home Office has indicated, more than 6 million EU nationals have applied for the national status, but some residents have missed the deadline. In this conversation, Vowden and Meduna will examine the successes and challenges of the UK EU Settled Status Scheme and the way ahead.
No more business as usual. Legal thinking needs to catch up with the present crises. This workshop is dedicated to informed, cross-disciplinary thinking that sees the university as serving broader communities of thought, rights activism and critical/ creative endeavour.
We would like to invite scholars, practitioners and activists to submit presentations to the Hart Workshop 2022. The presentation could fall under one of the streams outlined below, but we would also be keen to invite free-standing panels as well.
February 2022
Since the 1981 Brixton riots, many things have changed in British policing. However, Black people are still nine times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, and three times more likely to be arrested; Black people are far more likely to be searched, arrested and prosecuted for using drugs, and yet are no more likely to use drugs than white people.
This lecture explores the persistence of police racism and what we can do about it.
Speaker is Professor Leslie Thomas QC, who was appointed Gresham Professor of Law in 2020.
You can register to attend in person or watch the livestream
This session will give students insider track to navigating pupillage interviews including advice on how to prepare and what to expect.
The Centre for Law, Democracy, and Society (CLDS) is delighted to host a series of talks themed on 'Authoritarian Constitutions'.
This talk is on 'Free Speech Platforms in Unfree Countries', presented by Professor Ash Bhawat, Distinguished Professor of Law and Boochever and Bird Endowed Chair for the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality, UC Davis School of Law.
The Engaging with Government programme is a three-day course which will take place in February 2022 and is designed to provide an insight into the policy making process, and help participants develop the skills needed to pursue the policy implications of their research. It also aims to build links between policy makers and the most dynamic new research in the arts and humanities. We are inviting eligible researchers to submit an application to attend the course.
If for any reason, we are unable to host an in-person event, the course will be delivered virtually which may extend the duration to five half days. In the event the course is delivered virtually, we will arrange for attendees to meet in person in a follow up session when it is feasible to do so.
This evening seminar series is sponsored by the QMUL Immigration LLM and Kingsley Napley LLP. It is designed to provide an opportunity to listen and contribute to structured conversations among practitioners in the field of borders, immigration and asylum law in the UK and internationally on key issues. The content and impact of the Nationality and Borders Bill 2021 where relevant will be taken into account. This series is designed for advanced law students, academics, policy makers and practitioners who are interested in the development of migration and asylum law and constitute a new stage in the cooperation between the QMUL Immigration LLM and Kingsley Napley.
Are women asylum seekers made vulnerable by UK asylum procedures? Katie Newbury, partner Kingsley Napley and Max McClellan, Senior Protection Associate, UNHCR (London) Chair: Professor Elspeth Guild
Many international organisations have recognised the particular vulnerabilities that some women encounter when they are forced to flee their home countries and seek asylum abroad. In the UN’s Global Compact for Refugees, specific consideration is given to how to minimise these vulnerabilities and ensure that women in need of international protection receive it. In this conversation, Newbury and McClellan will examine how the new Nationality and Borders Bill (or Act by that time) impacts on women in need of international protection and how best its implementation can assist to provide it.
March 2022
Around the world governments characterized by observers as populist have taken power. Many of their actions have been incompatible with tenets of modern liberalism. This has generated commentary suggesting that populism is itself incompatible with constitutionalism. In the book Professor Bugaric and Professor Tushnet challenge this view.
Around the world governments characterized by observers as populist have taken power. Many of their actions have been incompatible with tenets of modern liberalism. This has generated commentary suggesting that populism is itself incompatible with constitutionalism. In the book, we challenge this view’.
The 2021-22 Cotterrell Lecture in Sociological Jurisprudence will be delivered by Professor Lorraine Daston. Professor Daston is Director Emerita of Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, and Professor at the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago.
The following topics, which are to be explored in other sessions of the conference, can be taken as a general (but not exhaustive) guide to the kinds of questions on which abstracts would be welcomed. • Climate change and the rule of law • International law and the Conference of the Parties • Populism and threats to the rule of law • Climate change and business • Governing climate change: Targets, process, rule of law • Rule of law, rule of lawyers • Urgency, communities and democracy • Climate change in the courts: Whose rule of law?
April 2022
June 2022
The following themes can be taken as a non-exhaustive guide when preparing the abstract:
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Sustainability, the Rule of Law and Innovation
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Legal and Ethical Aspects of Emerging Technology for Policy
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Innovation Intellectual Property law and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Industry
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The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Digital Divide
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Innovation and International Human Rights Law for Sustainable Development
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Global Processes, Environmental Law and Innovation
Small group meetings to workshop papers Participants will be assigned to small groups, each with a faculty mentor, and meet with that group virtually. The focus of the group meeting will be giving and receiving feedback on participants’ scholarly papers. This will involve a 3-4 hour commitment on one day in late June; the exact date will be selected by each group of participants.
May 2023
The relationship between legal rules and the spaces where they become effective is gradually morphing. This change is precipitated by semantic or cognitive—rather than exclusively political— circumstances. The meaning of legal rules is continually challenged by the transformation of their spatial projections and their cultural coordinates. Law can no longer assume that discrete spatial circuits and particular cultural backgrounds coincide. Conversely, each territorial frame, sometimes even those that are most distant from metropolitan areas, can function (at least potentially) as a hub of innumerous threads of actions and interests. All these connections impinge on the significance of legal rules and, especially, the prognosis for their effectiveness. The daily life of law is affected by this spatial-semantic turmoil.