Public Lectures from the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge

If you are thinking that you might eventually wish to pursue a career as a lawyer, whether a solicitor or a barrister, there are two different ways of getting the necessary qualifications. One is to study any subject at University other than Law, then do a one-year Law conversion course and finally complete the relevant vocational course to become a solicitor or a barrister. The other route is to study Law at University, typically for three years, and then take the relevant vocational course.

Graham Virgo, Professor of English Private Law and Deputy Chair of the Law Faculty Board at the University of Cambridge, discusses the benefits of studying a law degree if you wish to progress into the legal professions. Considerations include the breadth and depth of knowledge acquired, the opportunity to learn to think like a lawyer, the opportunities for critical engagement and to develop other legal skills, and the cost.

As Jonathan Hirst QC, a leading barrister and former Chairman of the Bar, has said: "In my view, pupils who have done an undergraduate law degree start with a very considerable advantage over those who have tried to cram in everything in less than a year. A Law degree allows a student to gain a broader and more mature understanding of the subject."

For more information about studying a Law degree at the University of Cambridge, see http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/admissions/

The legal aid system was created in 1949 as part of the development of the post-war Welfare State, alongside the National Health Service. It provides funding both for legal advice and out-of-court representation by lawyers, for example in negotiating the settlement of disputes, and – should it come to this – legal representation in court. However, this is set to change in April 2013, when the controversial Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 is due to come into force. The Act raises profound concerns about access to justice, largely removing legal aid from many of the areas of law where it has previously been available.

Ms Jo Miles discusses the potential effects of the new Act on access to justice, especially in relation to difficult family law cases.

Ms Miles is Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, and a Senior Lecturer in Law, specialising in Family Law. She is also Academic door tenant at 1 Hare Court, Assistant editor of the Child and Family Law Quarterly. and an Elected member of the Executive Council of the International Society of Family Law. In 2005 Ms Miles was seconded for two years to the Law Commission for England and Wales to work on the financial consequences of relationship breakdown. For more information about Ms Miles, please refer to her profile at http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/people/academic/j-k-miles/57

Law in Focus is a collection of short videos featuring academics from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law, addressing legal issues in current affairs and the news. These issues are examples of the many which challenge researchers and students studying undergraduate and postgraduate law at the Faculty.

This entry provides an audio source for iTunes U.

The legal aid system was created in 1949 as part of the development of the post-war Welfare State, alongside the National Health Service. It provides funding both for legal advice and out-of-court representation by lawyers, for example in negotiating the settlement of disputes, and – should it come to this – legal representation in court. However, this is set to change in April 2013, when the controversial Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 is due to come into force. The Act raises profound concerns about access to justice, largely removing legal aid from many of the areas of law where it has previously been available.

Ms Jo Miles discusses the potential effects of the new Act on access to justice, especially in relation to difficult family law cases.

Ms Miles is Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, and a Senior Lecturer in Law, specialising in Family Law. She is also Academic door tenant at 1 Hare Court, Assistant editor of the Child and Family Law Quarterly. and an Elected member of the Executive Council of the International Society of Family Law. In 2005 Ms Miles was seconded for two years to the Law Commission for England and Wales to work on the financial consequences of relationship breakdown. For more information about Ms Miles, please refer to her profile at http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/people/academic/j-k-miles/57

Law in Focus is a collection of short videos featuring academics from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law, addressing legal issues in current affairs and the news. These issues are examples of the many which challenge researchers and students studying undergraduate and postgraduate law at the Faculty.

There has recently been a great deal of controversy surrounding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the attempted deportation to Jordan of radical cleric Abu Qatada, and the decision to oblige the UK to give convicted prisoners the right to vote.

Professor David Feldman discusses the judgements of the European Court, and the corresponding actions by UK courts and the UK Government.

Professor Feldman is Rouse Ball Professor of English Law, Honorary Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and Fellow of the British Academy. He has acted as advisor to a number of Government Joint Select Committees, and was Judge of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2002-10. For more information about Professor Feldman, please refer to his profile at http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/people/academic/dj-feldman/723

Law in Focus is a collection of short videos featuring academics from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law, addressing legal issues in current affairs and the news. These issues are examples of the many which challenge researchers and students studying undergraduate and postgraduate law at the Faculty.

This entry provides an audio source for iTunes U.

There has recently been a great deal of controversy surrounding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the attempted deportation to Jordan of radical cleric Abu Qatada, and the decision to oblige the UK to give convicted prisoners the right to vote.

Professor David Feldman discusses the judgements of the European Court, and the corresponding actions by UK courts and the UK Government.

Professor Feldman is Rouse Ball Professor of English Law, Honorary Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and Fellow of the British Academy. He has acted as advisor to a number of Government Joint Select Committees, and was Judge of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2002-10. For more information about Professor Feldman, please refer to his profile at http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/people/academic/dj-feldman/723

Law in Focus is a collection of short videos featuring academics from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law, addressing legal issues in current affairs and the news. These issues are examples of the many which challenge researchers and students studying undergraduate and postgraduate law at the Faculty.

On Thursday 22nd March 2012, the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge held a special public seminar which comprised a panel discussion based on the central topic of "The English Riots in 2011: A Discussion from Different Criminological Perspectives".

The topics were:

Part 1: Friedrich Lösel: Introduction to the Topic;

Part 2: Ben Crewe: The Riots from a Socio-Cultural Perspective;

Part 3: Lawrence Sherman: The Riots and the Police;

Part 4: Alison Liebling: The Riots from Prisoners' Perspectives;

Part 5: Loraine Gelsthorpe: The Riots and Criminal Justice/Sentencing;

Part 6: Dexter Dias: Commentary on the Film 'Riot Went Wrong';

More information about this seminar, and the Institute generally, can be found at the IOC website at http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/

This entry provides an audio source for iTunes U.

On Thursday 22nd March 2012, the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge held a special public seminar which comprised a panel discussion based on the central topic of "The English Riots in 2011: A Discussion from Different Criminological Perspectives".

The topics were:

Part 1: Friedrich Lösel: Introduction to the Topic;

Part 2: Ben Crewe: The Riots from a Socio-Cultural Perspective;

Part 3: Lawrence Sherman: The Riots and the Police;

Part 4: Alison Liebling: The Riots from Prisoners’ Perspectives;

Part 5: Loraine Gelsthorpe: The Riots and Criminal Justice/Sentencing;

Part 6: Dexter Dias: Commentary on the Film ‘Riot Went Wrong’;

More information about this seminar, and the Institute generally, can be found at the IOC website at http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/

This entry provides an audio source for iTunes U.

On Thursday 22nd March 2012, the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge held a special public seminar which comprised a panel discussion based on the central topic of "The English Riots in 2011: A Discussion from Different Criminological Perspectives".

The topics were:

Part 1: Friedrich Lösel: Introduction to the Topic;

Part 2: Ben Crewe: The Riots from a Socio-Cultural Perspective;

Part 3: Lawrence Sherman: The Riots and the Police;

Part 4: Alison Liebling: The Riots from Prisoners’ Perspectives;

Part 5: Loraine Gelsthorpe: The Riots and Criminal Justice/Sentencing;

Part 6: Dexter Dias: Commentary on the Film ‘Riot Went Wrong’;

More information about this seminar, and the Institute generally, can be found at the IOC website at http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/

This entry provides an audio source for iTunes U.

On Thursday 22nd March 2012, the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge held a special public seminar which comprised a panel discussion based on the central topic of "The English Riots in 2011: A Discussion from Different Criminological Perspectives".

The topics were:

Part 1: Friedrich Lösel: Introduction to the Topic;

Part 2: Ben Crewe: The Riots from a Socio-Cultural Perspective;

Part 3: Lawrence Sherman: The Riots and the Police;

Part 4: Alison Liebling: The Riots from Prisoners’ Perspectives;

Part 5: Loraine Gelsthorpe: The Riots and Criminal Justice/Sentencing;

Part 6: Dexter Dias: Commentary on the Film ‘Riot Went Wrong’;

More information about this seminar, and the Institute generally, can be found at the IOC website at http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/

This entry provides an audio source for iTunes U.