Northumbria University Law School has
been awarded two rounds of research seminar funding from the Modern Law Review
(MLR).
Understood to be the first time a
post 1992 university has been awarded MLR funding of this type twice in the
same academic year, the achievement is recognition of the University’s research
quality and the significance of signature research areas within Northumbria Law School, Science
and Justice research interest group, and Legal Education and Professional
Skills (LEAPS).
Established in 1937, the Modern Law
Review is a prestigious charitable organisation which promotes legal education
through the publication of its respected law journal, also called the Modern
Law Review, and by funding lectures, seminars and other activities connected to
the study and practice of law.
The combined value of the grants is
in the region of £10,000 and follows successful bids to host two major research
seminars during 2019. Dr Nicola Wake, Associate Professor in Law at Northumbria
University, with Professors Tony Ward and Martin Evison led on the first bid to
host a major international seminar on ‘Human Trafficking and Modern Day
Slavery: Criminal Law and Evidence’, which will take place at Northumbria Law
School in the autumn.
Academics from Northumbria will be
joined by renowned experts including Philippa Southwell, a leading lawyer
defending victims of trafficking at all levels of the criminal justice system, Pam
Bowen, Operations Director of the Crown Prosecution Service and top prosecuting
Barrister Caroline Haughey QC.
Dr Wake said: “We are delighted to
receive such valuable support from the MLR. Being the first new university to
receive a double-award in the same year is fantastic recognition for Northumbria
Law School and in particular of our Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice
Studies. It highlights our growing reputation in producing impactful,
international research that is helping to provide genuine solutions to serious
societal issues.
“Through the Human Trafficking
research event, we want to explore criminal law, human rights, and socio-legal
issues connected to the use of forensic science in human trafficking. The
session will bring a range of academics and expert practitioners together to discuss
current methods used in the identification of perpetrators and victims of human
trafficking and modern day slavery.
“We will consider both existing and
potential new safeguards for victims and seek to outline new ways that forensic
science can be used in helping to tackle the challenges faced by front line
responders in identifying victims and perpetrators.”
Philippa Southwell added: “I am
very pleased to be part of this important research event, which brings together
leading practitioners and academics working in the counter human trafficking
and modern slavery sector. It is anticipated that this event will
cultivate new approaches to early victim identification and tackling modern
slavery. Northumbria University Law School's dedication to this issue places them amongst the UK’s
leading university’s committed to advancing change within the human trafficking
and modern slavery legal arena.”
The second successful MLR bid awarded
to Northumbria will fund an international research seminar entitled ‘Revisiting
Pressing Problems in the Law: What is the Law School for? 20 Years on’ to be
held at Northumbria Law School in June 2019. Senior Lecturers Victoria Roper and Dr Rachel Dunn collaborated with
Nottingham Law School on the bid and the event will provide a forum for reassessing
the role of the law school both in the UK and in other jurisdictions in light
of ongoing, multifaceted change.
Victoria commented: “Northumbria
has long been at the forefront of global legal education and we are extremely
grateful to receive this funding to host a seminar at a time when legal
education is confronting the perfect storm of change. The seminar will stimulate
discussion about how law schools should be responding to challenges such as
globalisation, technological disruption, regulatory change and Brexit. We are
delighted that internationally renowned legal academics such as Professor Paul
Maharg and Professor Margaret Thornton will be able to join us from Canada and Australia
respectively for the event.”
