Law on Trial, 17-21 June: The future of law and legal education
Legal aid, barriers to entering the legal profession and other legal topics will be discussed during a week of talks
Legal aid, barriers to entering the legal profession and other pressing and controversial topics will be discussed during a week of legal talks at Birkbeck.
Distinguished legal academics, novelists, journalists and political activists will explore the influence of legal education upon culture and society, and challenges ahead during the free lectures and workshops from Monday 17 June to Friday 21 June.
Law on Trial – an annual series of evening events organised by Birkbeck’s School of Law – is an opportunity for academics, lawyers and activists to present alternative and progressive thinking about law to a public audience, including current and prospective Law students.
The future of legal education provided by universities and private providers at a time of high fees and an expanding competitive market will be addressed. Many questions will be asked: To what extent can a Law School address the wider community and its legal needs? What should the 21st century law student be required to study?
From discrimination to the utopian law school
A diverse range of subjects will be covered by speakers and panellists throughout the week:
- Monday 17 June, 6:30pm-8:30pm: The utopian law school and the fate of the university
Professor Adam Gearey, of Birkbeck’s School of Law, will ask whether there is an alternative to debt and privatised education, and to what extent a Law School can address the wider community and its legal needs
Book your place
- Tuesday 18 June, 6:30pm-8:30pm: Legal education: socialist survivors
Professor Bill Bowring, of Birkbeck’s School of Law, will chair a panel discussion with two young lawyers from the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers. They will talk about how they became socialists and their experience of legal education
Book your place
- Wednesday 19 June, 6:30pm-8:30pm: New foundations: re-designing the academic stage of legal training
Professor Patricia Tuitt and Dr Stewart Motha, of Birkbeck’s School of Law, will lead a panel discussion examining the foundations of legal knowledge, other questions concerning the academic stage of legal training, and the merits of Birkbeck’s alternative qualifying law degree.
Book your place
- Thursday 20 June, 6pm-7:30pm: Legal education, discrimination and the legal profession
Professor Matthew Weait, of Birkbeck’s School of Law, will chair a session exploring barriers to entry to the legal profession. Speakers will address the changing demography of the legal profession, challenges and opportunities.
Book your place
- Friday 21 June, 6:30pm-8:30pm: Dream a little dream of law
Dr Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, of Birkbeck’s School of Law, will chair a conversation on the future of human rights, law and legal education in the 21st century. Speakers will consider whether we can still dream new and alternative realities for law and education in a climate of high fees and market competition.
Book your place
All the events are free and open to everyone. For more information and to make a reservation visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/lawontrial .