Day: 17 February 2017

‘Two leading experts give their differing views on the constitutional foundations of what we understand Europe to be, including a philosophical and historical perspective. An analysis of human rights from the eighteenth century to present day, identifying rights which have evolved from the English law and which are recognised in the human rights law we see today.

The RT Hon Sir Konrad Shiemann
Former Judge of the European Court of Justice

Professor Sir Roger Scruton FBA FRSL
English philosopher and broadcaster

Moderated by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, leading international human rights and war crimes barrister and former Gresham Professor of Law.’

Date: 20th February 2017, 5.45pm

Location: Parliament Chamber, Inner Temple

Charge: Free to members; Non-members £10 per ticket

More information can be found here.

‘The Bar Council’s Ethics Committee and the Family Law Bar Association will be holding an evening training seminar focused on Ethics in Family Law.

The main topics of the seminar include:

Bar Standards Board Handbook: a refresher
Working with the Regulator
How to apply an ethical framework to practical dilemmas in family cases

Confirmed speakers include:
Rachel Langdale QC, 7BR
Deepak Nagpal, 1 King’s Bench Walk

The seminar will by chaired by Ian Bugg,1 Garden Court, Secretary of the Family Law Bar Association.’

Date: 8th March 2017, 5.30-7.15pm

Location: 7 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4BS

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

‘What is wrong (if anything) with privatisation? Professor Cordelli argues that both instrumental and non-instrumental arguments (i.e. the motivational, commodification and intrinsically-public goods arguments) proposed by political philosophers against privatisation fail to explain what is ultimately objectionable with this phenomenon. The (intrinsic) wrong of privatisation, Professor Cordelli then suggests, consists in the creation of an institutional arrangement that denies those who are subject to it equal freedom.’

Date: 14th March 2017, 4.00-6.00pm

Location: Council Room, UCL School of Public Policy, 29-30 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9QU

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

‘This seminar will take a critical look at forced caesarean decisions in the Court of Protection including:

What is the appropriate threshold for capacity to make childbirth decisions? How does the court’s assessment of capacity in childbirth compare to capacity to make other reproductive decisions?
What evidence does the court use to assess a woman’s best interests in childbirth? Are there more sources of evidence on which the court could draw?
How can the court be better informed of the woman’s preferences?
What role does safety of the foetus play in decision-making?
What is the procedure for bringing these cases to court? Can it be improved?’

Date: 8th March 2017, 5.00-7.00pm

Location: 39 Essex Chambers, 81 Chancery Lane, London WC2 1DD

Charge: Free, booking required

More information can be found here.

‘Brexit presents Parliament with daunting challenges, politically and procedurally. Every Select Committee has an interest, and over 40 committee inquiries have been launched. A new Brexit Committee of twice the normal size was established in October. Its Chair, Hilary Benn, will talk about the challenges it faces; Baroness Kishwer Falkner will explain the work of the Lords EU Committee and its sub-Committees; and Commons legal adviser Arnold Ridout will talk about the Brexit work of the other Select Committees in the Commons.

Speakers:
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Chair of Commons Brexit Committee

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chair of the House of Lords European Union Sub-Committee on Financial Affairs

Arnold Ridout, Clerk of European Legislation, House of Commons

Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit, will Chair the seminar’

Date: 13th March 2017, 12.30-2.00pm

Location: Chadwick Building, Room B05, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.