Take Them to Court! How the Law Can Help in Creating Structural Change for Migrant Justice

This year we combine our annual lecture with the UCL Centre Access to Justice - now in its fourth year - with our #SolidarityKnowsNoBorders webinar.

Legal challenges can often be a powerful and effective way to create lasting social change. This is particularly true in the immigration sector where the Hostile Environment policy means that resort to the court is often necessary to ensure that the Home Office respects fundamental human rights and our constitution.

Access to the courts however is not always available. Legal terminologies and processes can be a minefield, and cuts to the legal aid system means that many individuals, organisations and campaigns often struggle to use the law to create social change.

In this seminar we will explore in more depths how the law can be used as a tool for successful campaigns. Our speakers will talk about the judicial review process, it’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as providing other examples of how the law and legal expertise can be used to build a wider movement.

Speakers:
-Jean Demars, Public Law Interest Centre
-Professor Lisa Vanhala, UCL
-James Skinner, Medact (Patients Not Passports campaign)
and chaired by Brian Dikoff, Legal Organiser, Migrants Organise