Following on from successful Rule of Law events in Pro Bono Week 2020 and Volunteers Week 2021, our Rule of Law event returns! We are very grateful to Gray’s Inn for kindly hosting the in-person element of this Pro Bono Week event.

Arrive from 5:00pm (In person attendees only)

Panel starts 5.30pm until 7.00pm. (In person and on Zoom)

There can be few times in the modern history of the UK where the Rule of Law has remained at the forefront of public attention and discussion for such a sustained period – whether it is governmental “tinkering” with judicial review, the backlog in the court system, to some concerning narrative about lawyers practising in the immigration and criminal justice systems.

As important as that focus has been, it often leaves a hugely important question unanswered: where do we go from here?

Lawyers almost universally see the Rule of Law as fundamental, but that seems some way off outside of the profession? If we are to protect the Rule of Law (and drive an environment where upholding the Rule of Law is seen as non-negotiable), the public at large need to feel the same way.

Having considered this question previously, the panel will return to give an update on the “state of the union” of the Rule of Law in the UK. From there, we will turn to continue our debate on what can be done to begin to deliver this. Can the law, and justice be rebranded? Can businesses be made to care and champion the Rule of Law? What, or who might get the public to value access to justice?

Chair: Catherine Baksi (Freelance Journalist)

Panellists are:

• Baroness Hale of Richmond (former President of the UK Supreme Court),
• Joshua Cameron (Managing Director, FTI Consulting)
• Baroness Helena Kennedy QC (Director of the IBA Human Rights Institute)
• Abiodun Michael Olatokun FRSA (Campaigner, academic and lawyer)

Registration can be found here

You can watch the full panel debate from Volunteers Week 2021 on YouTube (this panel included James Harper (LexisNexis) as a speaker and Catherine Baksi (award-winning journalist) was the chair).

You can watch the full panel debate from Pro Bono Week 2020 on YouTube (this panel included Law Society then-President David Greene, and barrister Matthew Ryder QC (Matrix Chambers). James Harper (LexisNexis) was the chair).