UCL CAJ Student Pro Bono Committee

[Learn about Prisoner’s Rights in the UK+Around The World]

Hi everyone, good work for making it to the end of Term 2! We’re here to announce our final event of the year! Considering that everyone is screen-fatigued, we thought it might be best if we gave you the power to decide when you would like to learn about Prisoner’s rights!

Prisoner’s rights is often also a fundamental rights issue; in the UK, a culmination of stereotypes, economics and lack of education means that prisoners are often seen as villains with no redemption possible. In light of this, it is important that we see past the prejudice and educate ourselves as future legal professionals what happens to the defendants after the trial. The documentary by Lee Salter explores the Injustice behind bars. If you are interested in a career in criminal law in any capacity (i.e. solicitor, barrister, judge…) you will want to hear what the magistrate interviewed had to say on sentencing.

For international students, prisoner’s rights in the UK might not be a topic that calls out to you right away. As such, we have also prepared a list for both local and international students to explore prisoner's rights around the world. Appropriate summaries, warnings and tags have been added onto each, so please reference them when choosing what to view.

To access the resources we’ve prepared, please join our UCL Laws Pro Bono 2020/2021 Facebook group.

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 21/22 COMMITTEE!

Applications are now open for the SPBC 21/22! This is an amazing opportunity for anyone interested in taking on a more involved, leadership role in UCL's Pro Bono Offering - with a variety of different roles available.

If you have any questions about the committee or the roles, please contact [email protected]. The current committee will also be happy to answer any questions you might have at our Pub Quiz tonight, which will be a great opportunity to chat with us and get to know more about what the SPBC do.

SPBC END OF YEAR PUB QUIZ/MEET THE OUTGOING COMMITTEE!

Join us for our End Of Year Pub Quiz to celebrate the end of this year's pro bono efforts! One lucky winner will win a £15 Amazon voucher!

You'll also have the opportunity to meet the Committee, who'll be happy to answer any questions about applications for 2021/22 committee positions.

Date: Wednesday 24 March, 6pm,

Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spbc-end-of-year-pub-quiz-and-meet-the-committee-registration-146625890987

Somers Legal Town Open Evening

UCL are proud to collaborate with Somers Town Legal Advice Corner to bring an Open Evening style panel event to UCL students. Together, we hope to shed light on the work carried out by STLAC and discuss how this type of work can be reconciled (or taken in tandem with) a career in commercial law.

We welcome Nabil Khabirpour, Tom Bohills and Cesca Meikle from STLAC to discuss their involvement with the clinic and how they got into their respective fields. It is also an opportunity for students to learn how they can get involved with STLAC whilst still at UCL.

Following the live panel discussion there will be an interactive Q&A session. We encourage all students, particularly those who are keen on balancing a passion for access to justice with their commercial or non-commercial career paths, to come along and learn more!

https://ucl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EQ8BsXohTdmlymjXDQph_g?fbclid=IwAR1SewJYwVioT3xYF9nJvR0wFNwiK1bj9W7rlGH-3ORkoBVV0XiN0P2yDXA

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Somers Town Legal Advice Corner Open Evening. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. UCL are proud to collaborate with Somers Town Legal Advice Corner to bring an Open Evening style panel event to UCL students. Together, we hope to shed light on the work carried out by STLAC and discuss how this type of work can be reconciled (or taken in tandem with) a career in commercial law. We....

SPBC ESSAY COMPETITION - CHANCE TO WIN A £50 AMAZON VOUCHER!

The SPBC is excited to announce the launch of our Essay Competition - with a £50 Amazon voucher up for grabs for our winner, and a £25 voucher for the runner-up!

To enter, email us ([email protected]) your answer to the following question by 6:00pm, 15 March:

"To what extent is racial bias and stereotyping a barrier to access to justice in the criminal system for defendants".

The word count is 1500 words (including footnotes), and there is no need for a bibliography. Good Luck! 😊

SPONSORED RUN/WALK FOR RHYTHMS OF LIFE

Rhythms of Life is a London-based homeless charity, founded in 2008 and operating in Islington, Camden and Westminster. Every day, their volunteers hit the streets to help those in need.

As part of the SPBC fundraising drive, the committee hope that you'll join us in a sponsored run or walk during reading week!

Link to printable sponsorship form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rDIZnVO5SjjDPazYGBs1sHJVGhfcoU5R/view

JustGiving Link to donate:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/spbc

On your marks - Get set - Bake!
As part of our fundraiser for the charity Rhythms of Life we are announcing a bake-off competition!

🍪Sell your baked goods to those living with you and donate the proceeds (or simply bake and donate)! Minimum entry donation £3

🍩To enter the competition: email your photos to [email protected] and donate through: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/spbc?fbclid=IwAR2k7KtqTMCjoCOccyrFXup7OlvCVLTXcsjdCMbpwEdf8XTjzC5HIoDQa1M

🍰Competition dates: 8-14 February
✅Good luck!

The SPBC is excited to present our latest fundraising drive, which will be taking place across February and March. All events have been carefully planned with the lockdown/covid restrictions in mind, and so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in from the comfort of your own home! Keep and eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for more details!

CHARITIES AND NGO's WEEK

Hey everyone, hope you are all keeping safe! For those of you interested in working for charities or in the non profit sector, UCL Careers is organising a whole week of events! They run form Tuesday to Thursday (check them out in the link below). Let us know if you have any questions!

"Getting Into Charities and NGO's" - Wednesday 27 Jan, 12:30-2:00pm

"Behind the Scenes Roles in Charities and NGO's" - Thursday 28 Jan, 6-7:30pm

There's still time to register!
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/about/events/themed-weeks/charities

Charities & NGOs week Are you interested in working for the charities and not for profit sector? Unsure what roles there are and where to start?

READ THE LATEST SUBMISSION TO THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND PRO BONO BLOG!

Check out the latest submission to our blog, written by Nicole Pearson. This insightful piece explores the fight against hate crime, and discusses missing prevention measures and the importance of promoting a grassroots approach.

https://reflect.ucl.ac.uk/access-to-justice/2021/01/25/bridging-the-gaps-in-the-fight-against-hate-crime/

Bridging the gaps in the fight against Hate Crime – Access to Justice and Pro Bono Blog Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere (Martin Luther King): The official blog of the UCL Centre for Access to Justice and Student Pro Bono Committee

✨LWOB MOOTING COMPETITION✨

Hey everyone, sign ups are now open for the Lawyers Without Borders Annual Mooting competition!

The LWOB committee will be running its annual moot on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th January.

This year we are excited to announce that the winning team will receive £50 in Amazon vouchers and law firm application support, and the runners up will receive £20 in Amazon vouchers. We will also be having a special guest to judge the final.

Applications are live now and close on Friday 18th January at 8pm (GMT)

This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about human rights, meet new people, enhance your CV and develop essential skills that employers look for.

The link to sign up is here:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlwrwn0xUetlVKpzYo0XVrG01UQUVLNVFUVktDSDU1Nk9MRlRIWUY4SVJJUy4u

Microsoft Forms

PRO BONO AT THE BAR

Join us to hear more about Pro Bono work at the Bar with three fantastic speakers. Sign up via the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pro-bono-at-the-bar-tickets-136957307995

ICDP WEBINAR AND BOOK LAUNCH - "The Death Penalty: Justice or Revenge?"

On Monday 14 December, the International Commission against the Death Penalty will host an exciting webinar to launch a new publication edited by ICDP Commissioner Professor Ioanna Kuçuradi entitled "The Death Penalty: Justice or Revenge?".

This is an exciting and informative event featuring some incredible speakers, so make sure to sign up below!

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3516076051120/WN_d7GRFv6KSgmhxR4o-4b2mg

END OF TERM SURVEY - CHANCE TO WIN £20 VOUCHER!

This survey is intended for all students regardless of whether or not they are taking part in a pro bono project with UCL Laws. Your responses will be used to improve pro bono projects and increase engagement with the UCL Laws community.

A NEW LINK HAS BEEN UPLOADED, SO PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM AGAIN!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlwi_3HAcF4YFLnYkxGtOT8Q9UQU1SM0NQODFaWVdMMjFRVjBTQzBDWjlYMS4u

HUMAN RIGHTS LAW IN PALESTINE WITH SALMA AYYOUB

Check out UCL Law Soc's exciting and unique event!

A human rights barrister specializing in Palestinian rights at London-based NGO Al-Haq will detail her journey, what it takes to be a human rights lawyer, tips to get further in a human rights career, & the unique challenges & opportunities that working for Palestinian rights has revealed.
November 25th, 2020, 6:00pm GMT
Sign up via the facebook year group pages!

https://ucl.zoom.us/.../tJMvcOutrDMiEtBa7kCWSbeh2d0XsMFTWUla

Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

A MESSAGE FROM KCL PRO BONO SOCIETY

The King's College London Pro Bono society is excited to invite associates, partners and graduate recruitment from a range of respected firms to discuss their pro bono initiatives. Our annual panel series celebrating National Pro Bono Week aims to showcase a small number of City Law firms and their pro bono work.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about the firm's incredible global pro bono initiatives, and network with graduate recruitment in a follow-up Q&A session.

Register below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pro-bono-in-the-city-local-communities-kcl-pro-bono-society-tickets-124676038387?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR2B-NCle4pCiUaXmCkAQ-XiQis95zoeCUQGhnQM2RlaNgk8y1_DQCAJkKw

Pro Bono in the City: Local Communities | KCL Pro Bono Society Hear from law firms Weil, Eversheds Sutherland, and Simmons & Simmons about their pro bono work aimed at uplifting local communities.

LATHAM AND WATKINS PRO BONO & ILBF PRESENTATION

Due to both Junior Lawyers Against Poverty's involvement and Latham & Watkins' partnership with the International Law Book Facility (ILBF), JLAP is pleased to invite you to the Latham & Watkins Pro Bono and ILBF Presentation and Q&A!
Date: Tuesday 10th November 4-5pm
Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/latham-watkins-pro-bono-ilbf-presentation-tickets-128308497169?fbclid=IwAR3GyRxZasA2iVqPK2e1udmwu28cYojTSf1Ox7g4INtBK8_8e4CUB152XT

Latham & Watkins Pro Bono & ILBF presentation Join us on Tuesday between 4-5 pm for Latham & Watkins’ Pro Bono and ILBF Presentation!

DEADLINE APPROACHING: ROMA SUPPORT INTERNSHIP

Roma Support Group’s Advice projects help Roma people living in the UK to access their social welfare rights such as helping to claim benefits and challenge benefit decisions, and helping to manage problem debt. The project delivers a number of activities to facilitate this work including one-to-one advice, group information sessions and publishing information materials.

Roma Support Group are recruiting for two different positions, Advice Assistants and Volunteer Translators/Interpreters

Eligibility and How to Apply:

The Advice Assistant Role is open to all LLB and LLM Students.

The Volunteer Interpreter/Translator Role is open to all UCL students who speak a relevant Eastern European language.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/access-to-justice/research-projects/2020/oct/internship-roma-support

Join UCL Junior Lawyers Against Poverty’s Webinar - ‘Poverty and Pandemic: A Deadly Combination’ - At 7pm on November 3rd, which will be focusing on the impact of the global health crisis on marginalised communities and assessing the efficacy of government policies to address these difficulties.
We some great guest speakers for this: Gabby Edlin, Founder and CEO of Bloody Good Period, and the internationally recognised Professor David Gordon at the University of Bristol.
This will be an invaluable opportunity to learn more about how the lives of many have been severely changed due to the pandemic, so do join us via Zoom next Tuesday!
Tickets available at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poverty-and-pandemic-a-deadly-combination-tickets-126776226105

Poverty and Pandemic: A Deadly Combination Guest Speakers include Gabby Edlin, CEO of Bloody Good Period, and Professor David Gordon at the University of Bristol.

DEMYSTIFYING PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LEGAL SECTOR

Join us and UCL LAW SOC for an opportunity to speak to solicitors specialising in civil liberties, human rights, employment and family law. Learn about their pathways and find out what opportunities are open to undergraduates to get a head start in public interest legal careers.
Date/Time: 28/10/2020, 18:00 - 20:30 BST
Venue: Zoom
Registration link (please sign up using your UCL email address): https://ucl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIkde6tqz4rGtFuRfCSb1Mt7GZmX9PoZlwW
Attire: Business Casual
Looking forward to seeing many of you there!

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES - UPCOMING DEADLINES

Visit our website to find more information and apply!

Introducing our next speaker for the upcoming ‘Criminal Justice System in Crisis’ webinar - Tristan Kirk!

Tristan has been working in journalism since 2007. Now at the London Evening Standard, he is one of Fleet Street’s last remaining court reporters. His work covers news from London’s Criminal Justice System, High Court and Supreme Court rulings and Civil Court disputes.

CAREERS MENTORSHIP SCHEME: APPLICATIONS OPEN

Applications are now open for the Public Interest Careers Mentorship Scheme!

The aim of the scheme is to pair students with mentors, some of whom are UCL alumni and now experts in fields including civil liberties, employment law and housing! This way students are granted guidance and support should they wish to explore volunteering, internship and graduate opportunities in the public and third sector.
You can find more information here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/access-to-justice/mentoring.
You can apply here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlwuFc3GGhJqNJjn5-Xac5x8FUQVJXMjY0TDROSkVaVVZZOFU3VEc1T1ZaVS4u.

Reminder: applications close on the 22nd of October!
If you have any questions you can contact Anushree Mehta ([email protected])

Today we’re introducing our first speaker for the SPBC’s upcoming webinar - “The Criminal Justice System in Crisis”!

Antonia Kim Charles has over a decade of experience in criminal defence, having managed some of the most complex criminal cases in the country. As a public speaker and expert in Prison Law, Antonia is experienced in speaking to both businesses and educational establishments on topics ranging from the law and legal compliance to female career progression. She is director and manager at MTC Solicitors.

APPLICATION ADVICE CLINIC SIGN UP

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's "Drop-In Clinics" will be held on Zoom. Students will be paired with a member of the Student Pro Bono Committee (SPBC) to whom they can ask questions regarding applications for both student and external opportunities advertised by the Centre for Access to Justice (CAJ).

The first Clinic will be held on October 14, 2020 from 13:00 to 15:00. Please note that each student is limited one (1) 15-minute session. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you're unable to book a slot for this Advice Clinic, not to worry - the SPBC will release general information and application advice based on the feedback from this Clinic in due course.

https://forms.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlwiqeLvMVz71Mnsgh00Ov5hBUNFQ3WUQ0MjNLNzBBUzE3N1E2RzJTODBIUi4u

Microsoft Forms

With the start of a new semester just around the corner, there are plenty of exciting pro bono events and opportunities to look forward to!

Here's a sneak peak of our upcoming events/deadlines:

ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND PRO BONO BLOG

Check out the latest submission to our Access to Justice and Pro Bono Blog! This insightful and brilliantly written article by Anmol Ratan argues that the recent judgement by Singapore’s High Court bypasses the fundamental rights to freedom and liberty of the LGBT+ community, and that in doing so the courts have curtailed its citizens right to access to justice.

https://reflect.ucl.ac.uk/access-to-justice/2020/09/07/singapore-high-court-denies-justice-again/ -144

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2020/21

The new academic year is nearly upon us! Over on our Instagram page, we’ve been introducing the SPBC 2020/21, who’ll be responsible for promoting and organising exciting events and pro bono opportunities this year.
https://www.instagram.com/uclprobono/

The annual Lawyers Without Borders Human Rights Journal is now available to read over on the LWOB blog/Yumpu! Follow the link below to check it out.

After much suspense, the UCL Human Rights Journal 2019/2020 is finally out! Please check it out below.

Click here for the pdf version:
https://lawyerswithoutbordersucl.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/lwob-ucl-human-rights-journal-2019-2020.pdf

Click here for the online version:

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/63939102/lwob-ucl-human-rights-journal-2019-2020 #

If you are interested in various human rights and legal issues, this journal is a must-read for you!

UCL CAJ Student Pro Bono Committee updated their business hours.

PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS PROGRAMME AND MENTORSHIP SCHEME

As part of the CAJ Student Pro Bono Committee's aims for 2020-21, we would like to introduce a scheme which provides a gateway for UCL Law students into legal careers surrounding social justice. In doing so we hope to better inform students about opportunities (volunteering, internships and jobs) in public interest law, outside of commercial law. We have put together a survey to help gauge interest in order for us to find mentors from firms, charities and not-for-profit organisations. It was also help us to learn more about areas of interest to plan future careers events next year.
Contact [email protected] if you have any further questions!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_oivH5ipW0yTySEKEdmlws6-0WBD03JJhafJ-o-gmdhUNFg1Q1RST0pBWU9ONklLQTJHMzZCM0o4WC4u

Microsoft Forms

In light UCL Laws’s announcement to suspend face to face teaching for the rest of the academic year, we feel obliged to cancel all upcoming UCL CAJ SPBC events to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

We wish to emphasise that the threat of COVID-19 is serious, especially to vulnerable people, and we encourage all STAR members to practise good hygiene and social responsibility and follow the relevant WHO and NHS guidelines. If you feel ill, please stay at home and self-isolate. Please read these useful links:
https://www.who.int/publications-detail/home-care-for-patients-with-suspected-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-presenting-with-mild-symptoms-and-management-of-contacts
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

This coming Wednesday’s volunteer party and the Refugee Food Festival the following week will NOT be held.

In regard to the new SPBC committee, we are so excited to have received a huge number of applications this year. We want to thank all applicants for their time and effort in applying. Selections for the new committee will carry on as planned and all interviews will be held remotely. If you have any queries, feel free to contact this page and we will respond immediately.

We understand that this is an extremely stressful time for all of us, and we are truly devastated about the turn of events, but we nevertheless hope you have enjoyed some of our events and hope to bring you more next year!

Take care and stay safe ❤️

- UCL CAJ SPBC 2019/20

Stay at home advice Advice about staying at home during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

As a reminder, you have until MIDNIGHT today to submit your entries to the inaugural SPBC Writing Competition.

Submissions cannot be longer than 1000 words and must answer the following discussion point:

"Technology is a useful tool for furthering access to justice. Discuss"

As advertised previously, the winner of our competition will be entitled to TWO work experience programs at JUSTICE and Mishcon de Raya! Other quality entires will be uploaded on the official CAJ SPBC blog.

It's not too late to start writing! Make sure to email your entry to [email protected] before 12AM!

Some snaps from our first panel discussion, centered around policy responses to the homelessness crisis, of the new year. We hope you found it an insightful discussion, and would like to thank our three panelists for participating, as well as our Events Officers' Claudia and Shreya for coordinating the entire event.

We're still looking for volunteers to provide baked goods for our fundraising bake sale taking place this Thursday, between 11AM-4PM, in the Student Centre. As part of the Great Legal Bake Competition, we're competing to raise the most funds for a legal charity and would appreciate any support. Register to take part here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8gdR-SrdYOm2J4HzQPCtJwf3GYELim8yHRI6rU_oI-DTjpA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2vXhsbOq6B3sZmvxsLmjz04levxEoYoSZ5TByygEdSF55Th3BKDuUbSbQ

We're still looking for volunteer donations for our Bake Sale taking place on 13 February, between 11AM-4PM, at the Student Centre!

Take a break from uni deadlines and help us raise funds for an amazing cause! You do NOT have to be a Law student to get involved, so do encourage any creative non-Law flatmates to sign up!

Register to provide baked goods here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8gdR-SrdYOm2J4HzQPCtJwf3GYELim8yHRI6rU_oI-DTjpA/viewform

LAST CHANCE to get tickets for UCL Student Pro Bono Committee’s panel event: “Search for a Home: Will Policy, Litigation or Lobbying Solve the Homelessness Crisis?” HAPPENING THIS EVENING!

The evening’s discussion is around the challenges that the homeless face on a daily basis.

The panel will showcase the efforts of legal practitioners and social workers in fighting for the rights of these vulnerable communities, in and outside the courts.

Whether you are a student interested in how to get involved in housing law, or simply looking to further understand the injustices facing the homeless in our country today, this event is open for all! GET TICKETS here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/will-policy-litigation-or-lobbying-solve-the-homelessness-crisis-tickets-91121140785?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR0U4xx6UNuWfTIVpKXhudCwAnCIqpHG_ynAOFbrgXnIV1qe-ZSsKwbvS3E

Food and drinks will be provided!

Will Policy, Litigation or Lobbying Solve the Homelessness Crisis? Come along to the UCL SPBC’s panel event: “Search for a Home: Will Policy, Litigation or Lobbying Solve the Homelessness Crisis?"

We have our first panel discussion of the new year coming TOMORROW (Tuesday 4 February) from 18:30-20:30 in LG26 at Bentham House! Come along for "Search for a Home: Will Policy, Litigation or Lobbying Solve the Housing Crisis?" and hear from our panel of specialists on how public policy is being used to tackle the homelessness crisis in the UK.

We are delighted to announce that our THIRD speaker is our very own Thul Khan, from the UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic, based in Stratford. Thus works as a Housing Solicitor and advices on all types of homelessness and possession cases, including those involving warrants for possession, to trial. Thul has also specialised in housing disrepair and unlawful eviction. Thul additionally has experience in obtaining and challenging community care assessments and in cases involving the provision of services for young people under the Children Act 1989.

In addition Thul supervises final year law students enrolled on the Access to Justice and Community Engagement (AJCE) module.

Thul's presentation will revolve around the causes and effects of homelessness, and will begin with a discussion on the factors contributing to the recent upsurge in official statistics. He will then discuss the growing trend of increased rental prices in the private housing sector, as well as the lack of social housing alternatives and the effects of austerity on housing provision. Thul will then discuss the effects of homelessness on a socio-economic level, with a particular focus on the growing strains on local authority services and the inevitable budget cuts the likes of social services will inevitably have to endure.

This is a great opportunity to brush up on the policy framework regulating this area and learn about contemporary developments from an experienced practitioner working in the field. For any second-year LLB students, this is also a chance to learn about the AJCE final year course and the work you could be doing if chosen for a clinic placement!

Get your FREE tickets for tomorrow's event here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/will-policy-litigation-or-lobbying-solve-the-homelessness-crisis-tickets-91121140785?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR24AM-LarakRbNHC99eaIsy3pHJny3G2oOXMOff_iuXbaAAkfe76b1Q1OA