We hold regular events to bring together the LAP community. Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date on upcoming events, networking and training opportunities. You can also get involved in hosting your own by joining one of our Thematic Groups leading our work on Refugee Rights, Women’s Rights, Land Rights and Ethical Business.
Upcoming Events
All our upcoming events are posted here. If you would like to partner with us to host an event, get in touch at: lawyersagainstpoverty.org
Book launch: by Danny Sriskandarajah
Power to the People: Use your voice, change the world
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah is Chief Executive of the progressive think tank, the New Economics Foundation. He has previously led organsiations such as Oxfam Great Britain, CIVICUS, and the Royal Commonwealth Society. He learned the value of citizenship at a young age as the child of Tamil migrants who moved from Sri Lanka to Australia. Arriving in the UK as the first Rhodes scholar from an Asian immigrant background, he has gone on to run a series of civil society organisations, and has become a leading voice in the third sector. His research interests include global development, asylum and migration, and inequality. He joins us to introduce his book, a radical manifesto for change designed to inspire citizen action around the world. The book which presents inspiration for how we, as individuals, can make a difference through greater community engagement, and how we can deliver a society that works for the many and not the few.
Location: Baker McKenzie 280 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AG
Date: 28th January 2025
To book a place please contact: info@lawyersagainstpoverty.org
Previous Events
Film screening: The Tribunal
We were fortunate enough to secure an exclusive film screening of Malcolm Rogge’s documentary produced in collaboration with the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.
The Tribunal, a 30 minute documentary about land grabs, extractives and investor state arbitration. The film reveals an interesting microcosm of the inequities pervading the investor-state arbitration system and international investment law. It provides a rare look at the immediate, human impact of issues underlying arbitration that are more often discussed as legal abstractions.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion on corporate and government legal and ethical obligations. As well as Malcolm Rogge, we were lucky to be joined by Louise Winstanley, ABColombia‘s Programme and Advocacy Manager on the panel.
Feedback from the event was that the film was extremely moving and brought to life the very human impact of land grabs.
Exile, Justice & Britain’s Colonial Legacy, with Philippe Sands KC
We were delighted to welcome Philippe Sands KC to our annual event to speak about his recent publication, ‘Exile, Justice and Britain’s Colonial Legacy’ with closing comments from Nick Flynn, Head of Legal at Avaaz. Philippe Sands KC is Professor of the Public Understanding of Law at University College London Faculty of Laws and Samuel and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is author of East West Street: On the Origins of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide (2016) and The Ratline: Love, Lies and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive (2020). Taking us on a disturbing journey across international law, Philippe joined us to share the story of his latest publication, The Last Colony: A Tale of Exile, Justice and Britain’s Colonial Legacy: After the Second World War, new international laws heralded an age of human rights and self-determination.
LAP Land Rights Group: Introduction to Land Law
Hear from LAP’s Land Rights Group Lead and land rights expert Dr.Kinnari Bhatt sharing her insights on the current context for land rights, taking stock post-COP 26 and exploring where land rights intersect with other fields. This formed part of a series of open events hosted by the group, which Kinnari has written about on our blog, explaining why securing land rights is now more important than ever and what lawyers can do to support the cause.
Defending the Rule of Law: Costs & Privileges
To mark the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, LAP co-hosted a webinar with Peace Brigades International (PBI) UK and the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk to shine a light on the vital and often dangerous work of lawyers in regions where the rule of law is weak and connect international efforts to strengthen human rights around the world. The webinar was be chaired by first president of the UK Supreme Court Lord Phillips and featured a screening of the latest film produced by Manu Valcarce on the challenges lawyers face in upholding the rule of law.
Defending the Rule of Law: Costs & Privileges
To mark the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, LAP co-hosted a webinar with Peace Brigades International (PBI) UK and the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk to shine a light on the vital and often dangerous work of lawyers in regions where the rule of law is weak and connect international efforts to strengthen human rights around the world. The webinar was be chaired by first president of the UK Supreme Court Lord Phillips and featured a screening of the latest film produced by Manu Valcarce on the challenges lawyers face in upholding the rule of law.
Feminist Principles in Governance
Lawyers Against Poverty welcomed Patti Whaley, former Chair of Action Aid UK, to discuss how to understand and apply feminist principles in governance, what this means for advocacy and influencing and how to adapt and apply these strategies in other areas.
Social Justice Lawyering in Times of Crisis
Lawyers Against Poverty hosted a series of conversations on social justice lawyering in times of crisis, kicking off with a discussion between LAP co-founder and Oxfam’s General Counsel Joss Saunders and former UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Carnwath on the role of lawyers in the fight for climate justice.
With huge thanks to our speakers and everyone who joined us to mark the launch. The event was chaired by LAP Co-Chairs Richard Dyton and Kirsty Wilson.
- Welcome from Lawyers Against Poverty, Emma Lough, LAP Director (1 – 5 min)
- “The role of lawyers in the fight for climate justice”, Joss Saunders, Oxfam General Counsel & Lord Carnwath, Former UK Supreme Court Justice (5 – 25 min)
- “Funding gender justice through Covid-19”, Hadeel Abdel Aziz, Justice Centre for Legal Aid, Jordan (25 – 35min)
- “Taking action for refugees”, Adrian Henderson, LAP Refugee Legal Confidence Programme (42 – 56 min)
- “Connecting a global legal community”, Pascale Bird, LAP Twinning Programme & Marina Bwile, Tamrat Assefa Liban Law Office (57 – 1.12min)
- “Empowering a new generation of social justice advocates”, Naomi Sander, LAP Junior Lawyers Network & Katrina Crossley, International Law Book Facility (1.12 – 1.23 min)
COVID-19 and its Impact on Human Rights: a discussion with Oxfam
In the early days of the pandemic, Oxfam joined Lawyers Against Poverty to share insights into global response initiatives as Covid-19 spread. The impacts of the virus – and the response to it – have disproportionately affected disadvantaged people across the globe. The UN has highlighted the importance of ensuring healthcare and other measures protect the most vulnerable: older people, those with disabilities, minorities, indigenous peoples, refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, people deprived of their liberty, homeless people and those living in poverty. This webinar addressed the question, ‘how do we rise to the challenge of ensuring that all peoples are afforded the fundamental rights of health and social protection in the midst of this global emergency?’
LAP Land Rights Group: Lawyers, Land Transactions and Human Rights
This webinar, hosted by LAP’s Land Rights Group, discussed key themes set out in the guide: Due diligence, tenure and agricultural investment – A guide to the dual responsibilities of private sector lawyers advising on acquisition of land and natural resource published by UNFAO (2019).
Report on Lawyers Against Poverty and guest speakers event
On 14 November Lawyers Against Poverty hosted an evening of talks on the topic: How lawyers can use their legal skills in order to promote rule of law and access to justice. This discussion took place in the context of women’s rights and refugee support.
We were delighted to welcome four speakers who gave up their time to talk with us about these issues:
- Tsitsi Matekaire, Global Lead, End Sex Trafficking, Equality Now
- Samantha Ferrell-Schweppenstedde, Programme Officer, End Sex Trafficking, Equality Now
- Philip Worthington, Managing Director of European Lawyers in Lesvos
- Adrian Henderson, Chair of the Oxford branch of Lawyers Against Poverty and Lead for our Refugee Thematic group
Indigenous Leaders Listening Session: The Flourishing Diversity Series
Lawyers Against Poverty and Simmons & Simmons co-hosted a listening session with indigenous leaders as part of The Flourishing Diversity Series. Find out more about it in the event report below.
Making Indigenous Land Rights a Reality
Lawyers Against Poverty hosted a discussion at Simmons & Simmons, welcoming Professor Alexandra Xanthaki, Research Director at Brunel Law School and Joss Saunders, General Counsel of Oxfam GB to lead a discussion on the struggle to realise indigenous rights and what lawyers can do to help.
Advancing Women’s Rights Through Strategic Litigation and Other Tools
Members of Lawyers Against Poverty’s Women’s Rights Group hosted a discussion on the tools we can use most effectively to advance and assert women’s rights.