Using the law for change: An introduction to strategic legal work

This one-day in person training is aimed at NGOs, community and campaign groups, as well as trainee and practicing lawyers. It will familiarise attendees with legal strategies, including the use of strategic litigation, and use of the law more widely, through campaigning, research and advocacy, to achieve greater social justice.

Presented in partnership with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer).

• Date: Tuesday 17 November
• Time: 10:00-17:00
• Location: HSF Kramer’s London office, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG

Who is this training for? 

• Civil society organisations, including funders, interested in using the law strategically  
• Campaign groups seeking to use the law for change, or as part of a wider campaign 
• NGOs with legal teams, including advisers
• Lawyers and campaigners new to strategic legal work and strategic litigation, especially those working with, or intending to work with, NGOs 

Ticket pricing  

• Standard ticket: £160 – For public bodies and anyone in private practice 
• Discounted ticket: £120 – For NGOs, trainees, and pupils 
• Concession ticket: £60 – For smaller NGOs and community groups with less resources (income under 250k)
• Contributory ticket: £30 – For community groups or non-constituted organisations with little to no resources
• Student ticket: £20 (very limited number)

Programme

10:00-10:10 Introduction from Public Law Project

• Victoria Pogge von Strandmann, Public Law Project

10:10-10:55 Using the law for change: An introduction

How can the law be used to advance social justice? Our opening panel offers different perspectives on using the law as a tool for change, from advocacy and campaigning, to research, litigation and public legal education.

• Chair: Victoria Pogge von Strandmann, Public Law Project
• Zoe Bantleman, JUSTICE
• Arianne Griffith, Public Law Project
• Svetlana Kotova, Inclusion London

10:55-11:45 Perspectives on developing a legal challenge 

Our speakers will look at how strategic legal cases develop, and how litigants navigate each stage from initial soundings to finding litigation partners and considering tactics Our speakers will also look at wider strategic use of the law when litigation may be the wrong tool, or one of many under consideration.   

• Chair: Rakesh Singh, Public Law Project
• Sarah Looney, Public Interest Law Centre
• Martin Williams, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) 

11:45-12:00 break  

12:00-13:00 Morning breakouts (chose one of the four) 

1. A basic introduction to public law

From complaints processes, to tribunals, to judicial review – how to use review and complaint processes to get your voice heard and hold public decision makers to account.  

• Asma Bennani, Disability Law Service
• Emma Dearnaley, River Action UK
• Joseph Fox, Public Law Project

2. Client care and co-production

This session looks at client care during legal proceedings and the similarity and crossovers with principles of co-production with impacted individuals.

• Unkha Banda, Deighton Pierce Glynn 
• Rebecca Hacker, Public Law Project
• Helen Fry, Bates Wells 

3. Housing justice and legal campaigning

This session will look at strategic use of the law in campaigning and casework seeking greater justice in housing.   

• Mathew Court, Public Law Project
• Middleton Cooperating (speaker TBC) 
• Joanna Underwood, King’s Legal Clinic, King’s College London

4. Socio-economic rights: What do we have and what rights should we have? 

This session will look at what socio-economic rights are currently enforceable in the UK, and what we change we can expect with the enactment of the socio-economic duty, promised in the coming year.  

• Jen Clark, Amnesty International
• Helen Flynn, Just Fair 
• Jessica Perrera, Institute of Race Relations
• Chloe Pugh, EHRC

13:00-14:00 Lunch 

Afternoon chair: TBC

14:00-14:45 Litigation and the learning curve 

What is it like for an NGO to take on strategic litigation for the first time, or to use it occasionally as part of their toolset? Speakers share experiences and lessons learned on getting buy-in from their board and supporters, to working with legal representation, and dealing with unforeseen outcomes. 

• Maya Pardo, Campaign against Factory Farming 
• Emily Mott, Clean Air Task Force
  Another speaker TBC

14:45-15:30 Legal research for social (or legal) change 

How can conducting and publishing research underpin and help develop a wider legal and campaigning strategy? 

• Chair: Arianne Griffith, Public Law Project 
• Caroline Selman, Public Law Project 
• Professor Lorna McGregor, Essex University 
  Another speaker TBC

15.30-15:45 Break  

15.45-17:00 Afternoon breakouts (choose one of the four) 

5. Managing communication around a legal strategy  

This session will explore some key issues in developing and managing communications around legal cases and legal strategies, including translating complex legal arguments for the public and media, supporting clients to tell their story, coordinating messaging with clients and legal teams and making the most of limited resources to shape a story around a case.

• Chair: Sue Wixley, Public Law Project
  
• Jessica Kaplan, JUSTICE
• Guy Vassal-Adams KC, Matrix Chambers
  More speakers TBC

6. Interventions in judicial review and other court proceedings 

This session explores how NGOs, charities and public bodies can Intervene in court cases to offer expertise and information to the court in an impartial way. The speakers will also discuss how interventions offer a route for people or organisations to influence the outcome of public interest cases.  

• Matthew Evans, AIRE Centre
• Bijan Hoshi, Garden Court Chambers
• Nusrat Zar, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
  Another speaker TBC

7. Funding strategic legal work  

This session will, provide a very high-level overview of funding for public law cases and strategic legal work, such as research to inform a legal strategy or build a coalition using the law.  

• Ali McGinley, Legal Education Foundation
• Claire Tindale,  Strategic Legal Fund (SLF)and the Strategic Legal Advice Committee.
  More speakers TBC 

8. Race and strategic legal work

Can the law be used to challenge and overcome systemic race discrimination, and if so, how? Our speakers will look at some of the history and limitations of strategic legal work concerning race in the UK.      

• Kehinde Adeogun, Black Equity Organisation
• Dr Shabna Begum, Runnymede Trust
• Riz Hussein, Institute of Race Relations (Lottery Cohort)
• Sado Jirde, Black South West Network
• Thalia Maragh, Garden Court Chambers

17:00-17:25 Closing interview 

• Interviewee TBC

17:25 Close and reception