LawPod

Join Dr Norah Burns as she speaks with Member of the European Parliament Frances Fitzgerald. MEP Fitzgerald is an Irish politician, she is a former Tánaiste, Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. In March 2024 she was the joint winner of the "European Values Champion of the Mandate" award at The Parliament Magazine's annual MEP Awards. In the EU Matrix ranking of the 100 most influential MEPs in the European Parliament for 2024, MEP Fitzgerald was named as the 8th most influential MEP in the Parliament. She has also been appointed to the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) on behalf of the European Union.

In this episode, Niamh and Tolu from Rainbow Refugees NI speak to Lauren Dempster about issues affecting LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers in Northern Ireland. Rainbow Refugees NI is a grassroots, volunteer-led organisation supporting LGBTQIA+ refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Niamh and Tolu tell us about the work of Rainbow Refugees NI, the challenges that LGBTQIA+ refugees can face, and they share the findings of their recent report on homophobia in asylum accommodation in Northern Ireland. To learn more about the work of Rainbow Refugees NI please visit their website https://www.rainbowrefugeesni.com/ and follow them on social media @rainbowrefugeesni on Instagram and @RainbowRefugeNI on X. "We are getting hurt" Safe Accommodation for LGBTQIA+ People Seeking Sanctuary in Northern Ireland, is now available here https://www.rainbowrefugeesni.com/safe-accommodation-report/

Join Dr Rosie Cowan as she talks to Professor Heather Conway and Barrister Sheena Grattan about how to die tidily with your affairs in order. Explore the pitfalls of dying without clear instructions left behind.Do you have a will? If not, do you know who gets your property when you die? If you have a will, is it up-to-date? Are your personal documents in a mess, such that only you know where everything is? Do you have an enduring power of attorney (something that’s almost as important as a will)? In your household, is there one person who ‘wears the financial trousers’ (and no-one else knows anything about it)? Have you thought about your funeral choices? Have you discussed your funeral choices with your nearest and dearest; do they know what your wishes are?This podcast probes these questions, and other legal issues connected to death. Released to coincide with Dying Matters Week, it encourages people to have difficult conversations and promotes the idea of ‘dying tidily’ with everything in order.

Join us for a riveting episode of LawPod, where we delve deep into the evolving field of criminology with distinguished guest Professor Katja Franko. Hosted by Dr. Alessandro Corda and Dr. Theresa Degenhardt, this special edition not only celebrates the ICCJ Annual Lecture 2024 but also offers a profound exploration of the global implications of criminological practices. The discussion traverses the impact of globalisation on criminal justice systems, the characteristics of the Scandinavian penal model, and the pressing issues surrounding migration and citizenship. This episode also explores Professor Franko and David R Goyes' insightful book on the legacy of Pablo Escobar, "Victimhood, Memory, and Consumerism: Profiting from Pablo" which critically examined the commercial exploitation of Medellín's violent past, tracing how global media, notably Netflix, have transformed the city’s trauma into entertainment, elevating Pablo Escobar to a global brand while overshadowing the victims' narratives. The conversation offers a profound look at the intersections of law, society, and transnational influences, making it a must-listen for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the dynamics of law and criminology in a globalised world.

In this episode of LawPod, Lawpodders Victoria and Nick interview QUB School of Law's Dr Conall Mallory. They explore the effectiveness and challenges of international law, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Palestine. The discussion, which took place at the end of January, centres around the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which mandates Israel to take specific actions to prevent genocide, emphasising the limited enforcement capabilities of international law without a global policing entity. The conversation critically examines the role of international bodies like the UN in enforcing such rulings and the inherent political challenges. This case illustrates the broader limitations and potential of international legal mechanisms in real-world geopolitical conflicts, highlighting the need for both realistic expectations and innovative diplomatic efforts to achieve tangible outcomes.

In this episode, ESRC-NINE Post-doctoral Research Fellow Dr Nisan Alici speaks to Dr Lauren Dempster about her PhD research on victim mobilisation and transitional justice in Turkey's Kurdish conflict, focusing on the Saturday Mothers movement. Nisan also discusses her Post-Doctoral research, which compares the work of civil society in Turkey and Northern Ireland, and reflects on her experience applying for Post-Doctoral funding.  Alici, N. (2023) ‘Imagining Transitional Justice in Turkey’s Ongoing Kurdish Conflict’ In Destrooper, T., Gissel, LE., and Carlson, KB. (eds.) Innovation and Consolidation in Transitional Justice. Learning from Aparadigmatic Contexts. Routledge Alici, N. ‘Complexities and Construction of Victimhood in the Kurdish Conflict’ In Sandal EÖ., Acar, YG., Uysal, MS, and Şen E. (2023) The Political Psychology of Kurds in Turkey: Critical Perspectives on Identity, Narratives, and Resistance. Palgrave Studies in Political Psychology series Alıcı, N. (2023) Linking Turkey's Kurdish Conflict to Transitional Justice: Grassroots Pursuit of Truth and Justice. Nottingham Law School Blog. Alıcı, N. (2021) The Saturday Mothers movement in Turkey: 26-year quest for justice and truth. LSE Women, Peace and Security Blog.

What is the reality of working as a solicitor within Private Practice in Northern Ireland? Lawpodder Karen Wray, alongside Deirdre Timoney talks to two local solicitor's - Katherine McAuley (Joseph Magee & Co. Solicitors) who is in the early years of her career, and Simon Murray (MKM Solicitors) who is a long-serving practitioner. They reflect on what inspired them to pursue law, outline qualification pathways, and share what it’s like to work in private practice and the job satisfaction this provides. Thoughts are shared on why students should consider working in small legal firms/high-street practices, as opposed to working in large/multi-national companies, with a key benefit being the ability to see client cases from start to finish. They also talk about how they maintain their professional development and consider how Gen AI will impact the sector moving forward. Finally, based on their experiences of working on the front line, they offer advice to current law students how best to identify and shape their careers.

Organise, Prepare, Conquer. Sadie Sturgeon, alongside Student Skills Assistants Aisling and Adam, delve into the possibly daunting realm of exam preparation. They share a treasure trove of strategies, tips, and mental frameworks to help law students navigate and excel in their upcoming exams.

In this enlightening episode of LawPod, hosts Karen Wray and Sarah McMahon are joined by Dr John Taggart, a criminal law lecturer with a keen focus on the role of intermediaries in the criminal justice system. Dr Taggart, who transitioned from criminal defence practice to academia, shares his journey and the importance of intermediaries—professionals who facilitate communication between vulnerable individuals and the criminal justice system. Through a comprehensive discussion, the episode sheds light on the intermediary's role, their critical contribution to supporting vulnerable witnesses and defendants, and the evolving nature of their involvement across various stages of the legal process. The conversation delves into the challenges of identifying those in need of intermediary services, highlighting the diversity of vulnerabilities that necessitate such support. Dr. Taggart emphasises intermediaries' significant impact on enabling individuals to effectively participate in the justice system, regardless of their vulnerabilities. Additionally, the episode explores the future of legal accessibility, underscoring the need for the legal system to continue evolving to ensure fairness and comprehensibility for all. This episode of LawPod educates on the vital role of intermediaries and sparks a broader discussion on making the legal system more accessible and equitable for vulnerable groups within society.

Dr Amanda Kramer leads an insightful exploration into the complex legal and humanitarian issues facing Palestine, she is joined by PhD student Tamara Tamimi and Dr Munir Nuseibah to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis, international crimes, and the international community's response.They explore the historical and legal context, emphasising the need for justice, accountability, and the role of international institutions like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. The conversation also explores settler colonialism, apartheid, and the global solidarity movements supporting Palestinian rights.Dr Munir Nuseibah:Munir Nuseibah is a human rights lawyer and academic based in Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, Palestine. He is an assistant professor at Al-Quds University’s faculty of law; the director (and co-founder) of Al-Quds Human Rights Clinic, the first accredited clinical legal education program in the Arab World; and the director of the Community Action Center in Jerusalem. He holds a B.A. degree in Law from Al-Quds University; an LL.M in International Legal Studies from the Washington College of Law of the American University in Washington DC and a PhD degree from the University of Westminster in London, UK, which he acquired after successfully defending his thesis entitled: Forced Displacement in the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, International Law, and Transitional Justice. Dr Nuseibah heads a number of research and services projects that focus on forced displacement, international law and Jerusalem.Tamara TamimiTamara Tamimi is a PhD researcher in Law at Queen’s University Belfast and scholar of the ESRC NINE Consortium. Tamara holds an MA in Human Rights Law from SOAS, University of London, where her MA thesis entitled “Destruction of Property and Unlawful Transfer in East Jerusalem: Reasonable Basis to Allege War Crimes” has received the Sarah Spells Prize for the best dissertation of the 2015/2016 academic year. Tamara’s research activity focuses on settler colonialism, transformative justice, forcible displacement, gender equality, and aid effectiveness of overseas development assistance. Tamara has also published extensively in peer reviewed journals and edited collections, including Development in Practice, Al-Shabaka- Palestinian Policy Network, University of Gottingen, E-International Relations, and Confluences Méditerranée.Further Reading:Tamara Tamimi, Ahmad Amara, Osama Risheq, Munir Nuseibah, Alice Panepinto, Brendan Browne, and Triestino Marinello “(Mis)using Legal Pluralism in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Advance Dispossession of Palestinians: Israeli Policies against Palestinian Bedouins in the Eastern Jerusalem Periphery” in Noorhaidi Hasan and Irene Schneider (eds) in International Law between Translation and Pluralism: Examples from Germany, Palestine and Indonesia.Munir Nuseibah and Tamara Tamimi “The Impact of the Oslo Accords on the Territorial Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in Palestine” in Noorhaidi Hasan and Irene Schneider (eds) in International Law between Translation and Pluralism: Examples from Germany, Palestine and Indonesia.Munir Nuseibah and Sari Harb, “What Does the ICJ Ruling Mean for Palestinians”: https://www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/51686/what-does-the-icj-ruling-mean-for-palestiniansTamara Tamimi and Daniela Suarez Vargas, “Propaganda vs. Truth: Israeli Propaganda and Palestinian Demonisation”, E-International Relations: https://www.e-ir.info/2024/02/13/israeli-propaganda-and-palestinian-demonisation/Osama Risheq, Tamara Tamimi, Raghad Adwan, Munir Nuseibah, “Depoliticised Humanitarianism Critiquing the Effectiveness of International Aid for the Bedouin Communities in the Jerusalem Periphery”, Development in Practice Special Issue on Conflict Sensitivity/ Do No Harm in Development, Humanitarian & Peacebuilding Practice. International Law and Perceptions of Justice in Palestine, with Tamara Tamimi; LawPod: https://lawpod.org/podcast/international-law-and-perceptions-of-justice-in-palestine/Activist Lawyer Podcast, with Tamara Tamimi: https://activistlawyer.podbean.com/e/ep-70-tamara-tamimi/Ilan Pappe, The Ethnic Cleansing of PalestineRashid Khalidi, The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917- 2017This episode was recorded 15th February 2024