Law In Focus Podcast

Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge•www.law.cam.ac.uk

Law in Focus is a collection of short interviews 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. For videos see: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy4oXRK6xgzHukYwMI806wyHrLBoL9K0v

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Episodes

'The Defects of Jury Trials': John Spencer (audio)

In the light of the discharge of the jury in the trial of Vicky Pryce, questions have been asked about the value of the jury system. Professor John Spencer discusses the pitfalls of the system over the years, and suggests ways in which the delivery of justice might be improved. Professor Spencer is Professor of Law, Co-Director of the Centre for European Legal Studies, and Honorary President of the European Criminal Law Association. He has written extensively on criminal justice matters and has ...

Feb 22, 2013•12 min•Ep. 6

'Votes for Prisoners? Democracy and the European Convention on Human Rights': David Feldman (audio)

Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights holding that the UK’s blanket ban on voting by convicted prisoners violates Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights have caused controversy in the UK. Professor David Feldman discusses the judgements of the European Court, and considers the principles behind allowing prisoners to vote. Professor Feldman is Rouse Ball Professor of English Law, Honorary Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and Fellow of the British Academy. He has act...

Nov 23, 2012•19 min•Ep. 5

'Householders Who Use Violence on Burglars': John Spencer (audio)

At the 2012 Conservative Party conference, new Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced plans to amend the criminal law to ensure that even householders who react in a way that may seem disproportionate in the cold light of day will be protected from prosecution. This reopened a long-running discussion about the balance of legal rights between the home owner and those trespassing onto the property for criminal purposes. The law received the most scrutiny in the case of Tony Martin, the Norfolk...

Oct 26, 2012•8 min•Ep. 4

'House of Lords Reform': Mark Elliott (audio)

The House of Lords Reform Bill, which is currently before Parliament, is the latest of many attempts to reform the upper chamber of the UK Parliament. It is over a hundred years since the enactment of the Parliament Act 1911, which changed the balance of power between the Lords and the Commons, but which was intended only as a stopgap measure pending the transformation of the Lords into an elected chamber. In this video, Dr Mark Elliott assess the House of Lords Reform Bill, arguing that a commi...

Jul 25, 2012•10 min•Ep. 3

'The Effect of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on Legal Aid for Family Cases': Jo Miles (audio)

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 ...

Jun 01, 2012•8 min•Ep. 2

'Deporting Abu Qatada: the European Court of Human Rights, and Governments': David Feldman (audio)

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 ...

May 28, 2012•22 min•Ep. 1

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