The Criminal Justice System Lottery: A Solution

By Fraser Barnstaple   Jeremy Bentham commented in the 19th century that when the cost of litigation is too great, entry to the system becomes a lottery to which only those with a golden ticket (money) can gain access. Unfortunately, the current state of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) means this rings true today, which…

To the Triumphs of Feminism: Open Hearts, Open Minds

By Richelle Khor   Women in Modern Society In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the submission and subjugation of the female characters depict the potential encroachment upon feminism engendered by society’s indifference towards women’s rights. A finding by the UN Women (Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation) proves that while there is progression…

A Treasure Hunt with Freedom Law Clinic

By Ee Vi Lim, First Year LLB Student, Freedom Law Clinic Case Worker   As a child, I was amused by the idea of finding something by surprise in a pile of soil or sand. I guess this explorer mindset have not left me as it was rekindled when I ventured on the journey with…

Technology and Access to Justice

In the legal sphere, technological reform of the judiciary has prompted discourse surrounding the effectiveness of technology in tackling social disparities. While it is indisputable that technology has had and will continue to have a profound influence on the legal system in the United Kingdom, it remains contentious whether, regarding access to justice, such an…

Reflection on the Magistrates’ Scope of Sentencing Powers

By Charmaine Chang   In 2003, the commencement of Section 154 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 extended magistrates’ sentencing powers to 12 months’ custody to clear court backlogs. At present, crimes warranting a jail term of more than 6 months must be sent to Crown Court for sentencing. However, the extensive discretionary power for…

Access to Justice and Family Law in a Post-LASPO Era

By Charmaine Chang   Since the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO), the demand for free legal advice has been growing steadily. However, due to the limited capacity of legal aid family lawyers, access to justice has been greatly impeded. Not only do multiple clients fail to engage with an affordable…

The Failure of the GCM and the ICRMW to Protect Migrant Workers From Injustice

By Fraser Barnstaple   Introduction One international access to justice issue relates to the protection of migrant workers. Two key documents which contain important provisions for migrant workers are the Migrant Workers Convention (ICRMW) and Global Compact for Migration (GCM). Migrant workers are, by nature, vulnerable within society. They lack the support, rights and familiarity…

A Step At A Time – with Freedom Legal Clinic

By Ee Vi Lim First Year Law Student, JUSTICE Court Observer   Walking down the aisle in a grocery stall, you may see rows and rows of delicacies – but underneath it, there are also rows and rows of price tags. As humans, we appeal to the sense of justice and some of us may often…

Seeing Justice with JUSTICE

By Ee Vi Lim First Year Law Student, JUSTICE Court Observer   It is a Friday – like everyone else, I pack up my stuff after lectures, but unlike everyone else, I make my journey to a Magistrates’ Court, ready to start my work as a JUSTICE court observer. On the bus ride there, I…

UCL JLAP Book Drive

By Emilia Kechagia On 30 November 2021, UCL JLAP completed their first book drive of the academic year in association with the International Book Facility. The books are due to be shipped to Sierra Leone. The ILBF provides good quality second hand legal textbooks, donated by the UK legal community, to not-for-profit organisations in need…