Annual Report 2015-16 the Centre for Professional
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Annual Report 2015-16 The Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research Since its launch in November 2012, the Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research has been dedicated to enhancing opportunities for students to develop their employability; fostering world class research on legal practice and education; and developing innovative approaches to the curriculum. We are grateful to all of our partners within the legal community who provide generous support and collaboration for our extra-curricular activities; to those practitioners who have committed their time to participating in our research projects; and to the members of the CEPLER Steering Group who have helped us to shape the growth and development of the Centre. In particular, we would like to extend our thanks to our key partners No5 Chambers for their conceptualisation, investment and continued support. July 2016 Introduction from Professor Robert Lee Director of CEPLER, Head of Birmingham Law School It is a pleasure to introduce CEPLER’s 2016 annual report. Another year in the life of our developing centre sees CEPLER continue to evolve and expand the range and diversity of opportunities for our students, and extend our collaborations with the professions, legal and non-legal. CEPLER’s tenacious research ambitions are advancing our reach; examining key issues affecting legal practice and education, as well as the changing face of the law in other contexts. Our education agenda is progressing as we consolidate on the success of our existing undergraduate modules through the introduction of two new additions: Employment Law and Global Legal Services. CEPLER continues to thrive and this is due, in no small part, to the commitment and dedication of the team; the invaluable support of our academic colleagues and professional partners; and for the generosity of the many Law School alumni whose enthusiastic support of our activity is of immense benefit to our students. Once again, we are grateful for your continued engagement. The CEPLER Framework CEPLER is part of the Law School at the University of Birmingham. It encompasses those Law School activities which are linked to law in practice and to the legal profession. CEPLER’s objectives are to: create opportunities for and facilitate world class research on the legal profession, law in practice and legal education; support and facilitate the impact of the Law School’s research across all fields of law, and encourage public engagement; enhance the legal practice skills, commercial awareness and employability of Law School students; have instilled in Birmingham Law School Graduates a sense of civic duty and citizenship; and increase awareness of legal rights and responsibilities amongst the wider community, each in collaboration with the legal profession, our students, the wider university, other academics, policy makers, regulators and others. Contents Page 2 Introduction and the Page 5-6 Pro Bono Group Page 10 Advocacy CEPLER Framework Page 7-8 CEPLER Careers Calendar Page 11-12 Research Page 3 The CEPLER Team Page 4 CEPLER Headlines Page 9 Careers Page 14 Education 2 Meet the CEPLER Team Professor Robert Lee Linden Thomas Director of CEPLER In-House Solicitor and CEPLER Manager A specialist in regulation, Linden qualified as a solicitor with SGH particularly health and Martineau, specialising in Employment environmental law, Robert has Law. She oversees many of our pro bono worked in two of the UK’s largest projects and links with the profession. law firms and has held positions on numerous committees and panels. Dr Steven Vaughan Dr Bharat Malkani Director of Research Director of Pro Bono Steven has been a practising Bharat specialises in the field of human solicitor and held lectureships at rights and criminal justice. He joined the Cardiff and Bristol. He is a Future Law School from Bristol University in 2008 Research Leader for the ESRC and is and established the Pro Bono Group in currently working on a 3-year 2009. project on Corporate Lawyer-Client relationships. Emily Carroll Theresa Lynch Director of Careers Director of Advocacy Having qualified as a solicitor in Theresa was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn 2005, Emily brings a decade of before joining the Law School from her role experience and understanding of with the CPS. She also teaches the CEPLER the legal marketplace from roles Advocacy Module and is researching BME with Irwin Mitchell, Walker Morris Students and Mooting. and Shoosmiths. Emma Flint Lesley Griffiths Director of Education Senior Administrator Emma joined the Law School in Lesley supports the extra-curricular and December 2014. A corporate lawyer careers-related activities in the Law School, for nearly ten years, Emma left including devising and coordinating the private practice in 2008 and was CEPLER Professional Development (CPD) made a Senior Fellow of the Higher Scheme. Education Authority in 2014. Caroline Bowen Professor Erika Rackley Administrative Assistant CEPLER Professor Caroline joined CEPLER in October Erika has an international reputation for 2015 and quickly became an integral her research in judicial diversity, the nature part of the smooth-running of our of judging, and gender equality in the legal systems and projects, coordinating profession. Her influence has earned her a the CPD records and supporting coveted Leverhulme Prize. careers and pro bono activity. Dr Julian Lonbay Piers Von Berg CEPLER International Development CEPLER Member Officer Piers is a Law School Teaching Fellow, Julian researches and advises on the specialising in Youth Crime and Justice and law relating to legal education, Advanced Constitutional Law. He is also a lawyers and other professionals and practicing barrister and a member of 36 he teaches on the CEPLER Bedford Row. Regulation of the Legal Profession module and the new Global Legal Services module. 3 CEPLER Headlines Birmingham Law School Shortlisted for National Pro Bono Award In April 2016 Birmingham Law School was shortlisted for the ‘Best Contribution by a Law School’ Award at the prestigious LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards. We were selected for the shortlist in recognition of the breadth and high quality of our pro bono work. Caroline, Lesley and Linden, with student Pro Bono Group Chair Christopher Walker Birmingham Project In June, participants in this two-week initiative were asked to consider ‘How can technology assist with access to justice?’ as part of the Birmingham Project. The Birmingham Project is a university-wide multidisciplinary initiative for first year students. Teams of students are given two weeks to research a topical problem and design a solution, which they are then required to pitch in a formal presentation to a panel of judges from industry. The CEPLER theme, sponsored by IBM, saw students conduct research into the challenges faced by litigants in person and develop innovative technological solutions to assist them. We are delighted that one of the CEPLER teams won their category for their development of an app called ‘JustEase’, designed to aid litigants in person. Celebrating the Harding Law Library The Harding Law Library has served the Law School since 1961 and, on the eve of its closure and relocation to the new, state-of-the-art main library, we invited our alumni to join an evening reception to reminisce with peers, academics and former library staff. The library’s relocation marks an exciting new phase in the life of the Law School as the development of the space will include new facilities for mooting and advocacy. Former Librarians: Mary Blake, Sheila McDougall, & Margaret Vaughan “Visiting the European Court of Court of Justice of the European Union Justice further sparked my interest In May we were pleased to sponsor a trip for three of our LLM students, in European legal systems, Blerina Bulica, Elena Alert Moreno and Victoria Annells, to visit the CJEU in particularly regarding human rights Luxembourg, a rare opportunity to see the inner workings of this important and international law. It has institution. Organised by our colleague Karen McAuliffe, the students spent a encouraged me to incorporate packed day touring the buildings, attending case briefings and hearings and European law and human rights in meeting with members of the court. my future career.” Blerina Bulica C EPLER Awards The Annual CEPLER Awards recognise the commitment and achievements of our students in activity outside the curriculum. This year saw the introduction of four new awards: Highest Achievement in Careers, Highest Achievement in CEPLER Professional Development, Highest Achieving Student in ‘Regulation of the Legal Profession’ and the Head of School Award. These sit alongside existing awards to celebrate Outstanding Contribution to Pro Bono and Mooting, and the overall CEPLER Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extra-Curricular Endeavour. In addition, 73 graduating students received Gold, Silver or Bronze awards in recognition of extra-curricular activity. 4 Pro Bono Group Student Pro Bono Conference CEPLER’s Pro Bono Group has continued to In November 2015 CEPLER partnered with BPP Law School to increase the scale and scope of its offering hold Birmingham's first Student Pro Bono Conference. Held during the 2015-16 academic year, with over during National Pro Bono Week, the event, hosted by 185 Birmingham Law School students Shoosmiths, was open to law students from universities engaging in pro bono work. The Group has across Birmingham and featured perspectives from within