Legal Aid Practitioners’ Group Conference with YLAL sessions 19th October in Oxford

This year’s full day LAPG conference will take place on 19th October at Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LN….the line up looks great. For students who would like to attend the 2 YLAL sessions in the afternoon, a limited number of free places will be available for students on a first come first served basis. Please note that free places are only available to students. Book your ticket by emailing kate@lapg.co.uk

Your can download the main programme here – all YLAL session students will be welcome to come for the whole day and attend the main conference in the morning.

YLAL will be convening two panel discussions from 2.00 – 2.45 and 2.45 – 3.30.

1 – Who Needs the Human Rights Act?

Blamed for excessive individual rights protection by politicians and the press, what impact has the Human Rights Act 1998 actually had on casework? YLAL presents a seminar which will go beyond an academic and media led understanding of the HRA and provide insight into the possibilities and limitations of the HRA in practice.

YLAL’s panel of inspirational, campaigning lawyers includes James Welch of Liberty, Doughty Street barrister, Felicity Williams, and Phil Shiner, Public Interest Lawyers, who were behind Al Skeini & Others and barrister, Shauna Gillan, who was involved in providing legal advice to the Camp for Climate Action at Heathrow airport.

2 – ‘How to get a career in legal aid: eyes wide open’

Richard de Friend, Chair of Academic Board, College of Law will advise people on which route (bar/solicitors) to take in current climate.

Life at the junior bar – Alison Gerry, Doughty Street Chambers
Life as a legal aid solicitor – Gwendolen Gwynn Morgan solicitor at Fisher Meredith LLP
Life as an NGO lawyer – Laura Janes – Chair of YLAL, solicitor at the Howard League for Penal Reform
YLAL update on what the Carter reforms mean for those who wish to enter the legal aid profession