PUBLIC LAW>>>BACK TO THE FUTURE

PLP’s annual conference is back for a day of cutting-edge analysis, insight and outlook presented in partnership with Blackstone Chambers and Herbert Smith Freehills.  

THIS EVENT IS IN-PERSON ONLY (NO online session or recording)

Date: Wednesday 16th October

Place: Herbert Smith Freehills (Exchange House, Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2HS)

Please do try to book in good time as, in recent years, this event has always sold out!


Our 21st annual conference follows a period of unprecedented challenges to constitutional norms and access to justice. Looking forward, can public law provide protection for our rights? What should we expect of our administrative justice system?

This year’s illustration is provided by Sajan Rai.  You can download or view the complete illustration here.  

This event is for

All practitioners involved in all aspects of public law and judicial review, including those in private practice, Government, NGOs (including policy and advocacy work), researchers and academics.

Tickets and pricing

Tickets are priced at £295 full price, £230 discounted rate (for NGOs, academics and researchers or those employed by universities, those under 3 years call, trainees and paralegals. Block booking discounts for 3 or more places are available. See the end of this page for rates.

Please email events@publiclawproject.org.uk to make arrangements.

Delegate packs and access

We provide electronic versions of the pack only for environmental and accessibility reasons.  If you require a printed pack for accessibility reasons, please email events@publiclawproject.org.uk to request one, giving us at least one week’s notice if at all possible.  The venue is fully wheelchair accessible.  Should you have any further access requirements please enter these on the booking form.

Devices

Please bring a fully charged device as there are limited charging points available.

Lunch

All delegates are provided with vegetarian food for environmental and simplicity reasons.


PROGRAMME
Morning chair TBC

09:25 Introduction 

  • Shameem Ahmad, CEO, Public Law Project

09:30 Opening address: Future perspectives from past experience

  • The Hon Mr Justice Fordham

10:00 The top public law cases of the year

  • Victoria Pogge von Strandmann, Public Law Project (as of September 2024) 
  • Rachel Jones, Blackstone Chambers
  • Nusrat Zar, Herbert Smith Freehills

10:45 Break

11:00 Public law and the executive: What is the future relationship?

Speaker(s) TBC

11:45 Morning breakouts (choose one of four)

1. Immigration and asylum policies in the first 100 days
At the time of writing a number of Home Office policies are on hold following the Government’s announcement that they were abandoning the Rwanda policy. This seminar will look at the conditions and prospects for asylum seekers and migrants after the new Governments first 100 days. How will we be using public law to protect fundamental rights and access to justice for asylum seekers and refugees   

  • Rakesh Singh, Public Law Project (Chair)
  • Polly Glynn, Deighton Pierce Glynn
  • Alison Pickup, Asylum Aid
  • Zoe Bantleman, Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)

2. SEND and the accessibility of state education: can public law protect and enforce children’s rights?
This session looks at the national crisis in schools’ accessibility to students, exclusions and the causes of voluntary withdrawalsHow can public law help protect children’s right to education, especially where race, disability, socio-economic factors and access to justice are in play?

  • Angela Jackman KC (Hon), Irwin Mitchell (Chair)
  • Ollie Persey, Garden Court Chambers
  • Clare Cruise, Southwark Law Centre
  • Sabrina Dixon, Social Inclusion Recovery Group (S.I.R.G.)
    Another speaker TBC

3. Can public law protect protest rights?
Recent years have seen an unprecedented number of cases around the right to protest. This session will look at protesters’ rights, and especially the use of injunctions against persons unknow by public and private actors.

  • Katy Watts, Liberty
  • Alice Hardy, Bindmans
  • Yaaser Vanderman, Landmark Chambers
    More speakers TBC

4. Judicial review of the regulators
Our speakers will look at the recent use of judicial review to challenge decisions across a range of regulators.

  • Jasveer Randhawa (TBC), Herbert Smith Freehills
  • James Wood, Herbert Smith Freehills

13:00 Lunch

Afternoon chair TBC

14:00 The future of Human Rights
Shami Chakrabarti will deliver a short talk on the future of human rights. There will be a panel of respondents and time for audience Q&A. Our panellists will be confirmed soon.

  • The Rt Hon. Baroness Chakrabarti CBE

15:00 Break

15:15 Afternoon breakouts (choose one of four)

5. Can public law protect social housing and address the housing crisis?

  • Dame Karen Buck
  • Saskia O’Hara, Public Interest Law Centre
  • Jason Tetley, Greater Manchester Law Centre
    More speakers TBC

6. Consultation challenges
This session will look at recent case law and cases challenging  public body consultations. There will be an emphasis on the need for transparency and accountability, for instance in the use of EIAs, as well as meeting the ‘Gunning principles.

  • Aoife O’Reilly, Public Law Project
  • Alex Rook, Rook Irwin Sweeney
  • Ellen Clifford, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)
  • Steven Broach KC, 39 Essex Chambers
    More speakers TBC

7. How are people’s rights impacted by the use of AI and ADM, and can public law protect us?
How is digitalisation and automation currently impact people’s rights, what does the future hold? Considering the lack of litigation, what role does public law and regulation playThere will be a special emphasis on ADM’s use in immigration, and we’ll ask why migrants are being used as guinea pigs in this area.

  • Caroline Selman, Public Law Project
  • Isabel Buchanan, Blackstone Chambers
  • Michaela Chen, Foxglove
    More speakers TBC

8. International law in judicial review
This session will look at general principles on the use of international law in domestic courts, as well as using international law to uphold the rights of children and refugees, and the environment.

  • Zahra Al-Rikabi, Brick Court Chambers
  • Laura Dubinsky KC, Doughty Street Chambers
  • Margherita Cornaglia, Doughty Street Chambers
    More speakers TBC

16:30 A better future through public law?

How do we avoid another Windrush, Horizon or infected blood scandal? Will the Government’s proposed Hillsborough Law and appointment of a Windrush Commissioner be enough to promote more accountability and better governance, and reduce the likelihood of large-scale injustice?

  • Sam Freedman, Journalist and Senior Fellow, Institute for Government
  • Jenni Richards KC, 39 Essex Chambers
    More speakers TBC

17:30 Closing remarks followed by drinks reception


TICKETING FOR GROUP BOOKING

VAT is excluded for the event tickets.

If you have any technical issues with booking please contact events@publiclawproject.org.uk

     


16 October 2024
9:25 am - 5:30 pm

Book now

Exchange House, Primrose Street
London
EC2A 2HS

Standard Ticket

Price: £295.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £295.00

Discounted Ticket

Price: £230.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £230.00

Student Ticket

Price: £20.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £20.00

Standard Ticket (Block booking 3-6 places)

Price: £245.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £245.00

Discounted Ticket (Block booking 3-6 places)

Price: £190.00
VAT: £0.00
Total: £190.00

Book a place

Ticket Type Price Spaces
Standard Ticket
For those in private practice, government and regulatory bodies.
£295.00
Discounted Ticket
For those in the charity, voluntary, or NGO sector; advisers; trainee lawyers.
£230.00
Student Ticket
This ticket is intended only for those in full-time undergraduate education using a valid university email address. Bookings made without using a university email address will not be processed.
£20.00
Standard Ticket (Block booking 3-6 places)
Standard Ticket block booking 3-6 places
£245.00
Discounted Ticket (Block booking 3-6 places)
Discounted Ticket block booking 3-6 place
£190.00

Pay now via credit/debit card