As part of the Laws Connections Homelessness Case Study, first year students were asked to write a blog post reflecting on their experiences. We selected two of the most impressive entries to share with you here. Author: Oyinda Fashanu I chose the topic ‘homelessness’ as my first choice because of my personal experience with it….
Barriers to Accessing Justice
As part of the Laws Connections Homelessness Case Study, first year students were asked to write a blog post reflecting on their experiences. We selected two of the most impressive entries to share with you here. Author: Rubika Ramachandran Throughout the homelessness case study, it was not all that shocking to learn how the welfare…
National Pro Bono Week (7th – 11th November 2022)
5 great reasons to do pro bono Learn new legal skills Exposure to clients from various backgrounds can help you pick up people skills. You will learn how to handle emotional and vulnerable clients, which are valuable in the client-facing profession. The compassion that stems from the humanity viewpoint will bring about holistic development to…
Freshers’ Week Pro Bono Fair (Wednesday 28th September, 1600-1900)
On the 28th of September 2022, the Centre for Access to Justice Student Pro Bono Committee (SPBC) and the UCL Law Society co-hosted a pro bono fair at the central hub of Bentham House. The objectives of the event were to introduce the internal and external pro bono opportunities to the freshers, and to engage…
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…