January

Our Parliamentary Advice Scheme has advised on the Gender Recognition Bill, criminal prosecutions for slow walking, defamation and SLAPPs, the Economic Activities of Public Bodies Bill, the Specialist Courts and the Specialist Courts and Disclosure Rules and the Retained EU Bill.

We met with the Shadow Justice team, who were as always grateful for our assistance. They particularly raised our contribution to the end-to-end review on Criminal Justice that we have been partaking in. They will also remind the different Shadow teams that we are here to assist when needed.

Catherine and Natasha attended the first meeting on the end-to-end review on Criminal Justice, which focused on looking at prevention, as well as technology and criminal justice. They had asked whether we could facilitate an event at the end of their end-to-end review.

The SLL Constitution group held an event with the Gordon Brown Commission. In January we also held a launch event for successful applicants of the SLL Mentoring Scheme. Finally, Catherine chaired a panel with the SRA, Seema Malhotra MP and Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry MP on Access to Justice.  

February

SLL hosted the Shadow Justice Secretary, Steve Reed MP’s, speech on Labour’s position on the Rule of Law at the Inns.

We held our second ever Parliamentary Advice Scheme training event, with over 40 attendees.

SLL have also advised the PLP on Russian State Assets, as well as our ongoing advice pieces.

Finally, we are also currently working on launching our new membership system.

March

SLL have held some brilliant events throughout March. We held an Access to Justice event with Shadow Justice Secretary, Steve Reed MP, at Middle Temple. We discussed a new proposal of the National Legal Service.

The SLL Family group held a roundtable with Helen Hayes MP and Alex Cunningham MP.

The SLL Mentoring Scheme held a hybrid applications workshop for mentees. Huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to assist with that event, to Dan Jones for organising, and to Tony Vaughan and Doughty Street Chambers for the fantastic venue space.

Dan Jones has also overseen the SLL submissions to Labour’s National Policy Forum.

The Parliamentary Advice Scheme has in March advised on sentencing for assaults on prison staff, the National Legal Service, Court Fines and the Lifetime Allowance.

Thank you to Gabrielle Galdino who has announced that she will be stepping down as co-chair of the City group.

Finally, the Socialist Societies have been involved in a Trade Union Labour link event in the East Midlands.