Faculty to host series of legal events for JUSTICE 60th anniversary

The JUSTICE all-party law reform and human rights organisation is hoping to raise £2 million by its 60th anniversary in 2017.

As part of the campaign, JUSTICE Scotland has launched a 2015-16 programme of events which is “designed to engage writers, film-makers, thinkers and social commentators in a dialogue about the law.”

Supreme Court Justice Lord Hodge will chair each event in the Faculty’s Laigh Hall.

On 20 November, the topic will be “Law and International Relations”, with a discussion on the tensions between law and war featuring General Sir Mike Jackson, Chief of the General Staff at the time of the Iraq war, and Sir Menzies Campbell QC, former leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Next, on 22 January, Shami Chakrabarti, will look at “Law and Society” and discuss a lifetime of campaigning on issues affecting all members of society, with James Wolffe QC, Dean of Faculty.

On dates still to be confirmed in spring and summer 2016, “Law and the Media” will feature Jon Snow, the presenter of Channel 4 News, and “Law and the Arts” will have a discussion on forensic science as portrayed in drama and literature, with the crime writer Val McDermid, eminent forensic scientistProfessor Sue Black, and journalist Ruth Wishart.

Mr Wolffe said: “The Faculty of Advocates is delighted to host the JUSTICE Scotland Beyond Law series.

These events should remind us that the law affects us all – that it matters to everyone - and they should have a wide appeal.”

For more information go to http://justice.org.uk/events/law-and-international-relations/

JUSTICE was founded in 1957 by a group of leading jurists to promote the rule of law and the fair administration of justice. It has grown to become the leading commentator on the justice system, and JUSTICE Scotland, formally launched as a branch in 2012, focuses attention on Scottish issues.

Patrons of the “Securing JUSTICE at 60” appeal include: The Rt Hon Lord Hope of Craighead, Sir David Edward QC, Dorothy Bain QC, Ruth Crawford QC, Donald Findlay QC, Derek Ogg QC, Aidan O’Neill QC, Anna Poole QC, David Sheldon QC, William Taylor QC, and James Wolffe QC.