LawPod

In this wide ranging discussion, the School of Law's Dr Peter Doran, meets Nigerian scholar, writer and philosopher, Dr Báyò Akómoláfé. The context is Dr Doran's upcoming report for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (Ireland) on the role of the artist in advancing the wellbeing economy, and the topics covered include 'postactivism', decoloniality and modernity. Báyo has recently taken up the position of Ambassador for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance worldwide, and is founder of The Emergence Network. "The task for today's activist," comments Dr Doran, "is to 'stay with the trouble' and avoid reaching for illusory solutions framed by the logics and power configurations that have brought us to the brink. In Báyò's words, 'times are urgent, it is time to slow down.' " Join us for a profound exploration with Báyo, delving into the depths of colonisation, perception, and art. Unpack the power of "ontological mutiny" and discover how getting "lost" can be our path to freedom. Dive deep, challenge norms, and reshape your understanding of the world.

In this episode, Prof Luke Moffett and Dr Kevin Hearty talk with Victims' Commissioner Ian Jeffers and Dr Cheryl Lawther about their recent report on More than a Number: Reparations for those Bereaved during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The report based on interviews with victims and archival work found that compensation during the early years of the Troubles, where half of all deaths occurred, was inadequate and not fit for purpose. Some victims who were killed in the same incident saw large discrepancies with one being paid £50 and another £15,000, even in the same family, in one case where two brothers were killed, their family received £5,000 for one of them and £112 for the other. Women were also discriminated against and make up most of the lowest awards, despite making up only 10% of those killed. In the podcast we discuss the findings and next steps to establish a bereavement payment scheme. The full report and presentations from the launch can be found here: https://reparations.qub.ac.uk/new-report-reparations-for-those-bereaved-during-the-troubles/

In this episode, LawPod’s Law and Society team participant Aoibhinn Graham interviews Kevin Doherty, the Union Services Officer for the Northern Ireland branch of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The conversation focuses on the content and impact of the new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) legislation on the function trade unions and the right to strike in Britain, as well as how this may affect the trade union movement in Northern Ireland. Key challenges facing trade unions are highlighted, including a flurry of anti-union legislation and the media’s often biased portrayal of unions and industrial action. The discussion also features a broader analysis of the impact of such legislation on democracy and devolution in the UK. For more information on ICTU’s work, visit https://www.ictu.ie/ and https://www.ictuni.org/For more details about the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) legislation, see https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3396

Welcome to the second episode of our symposium podcast series, recorded on the final day of the event. In this slightly extended conversation, Dr Alice Diver is joined by Frances Latchford from York University in Toronto, Boon Young Han, co-founder of KAARN and a scholar at the National University in Seoul, and John McLeod from the University of Leeds.This discussion delves into the complex issue of original identity, exploring its significance and pondering how we might redefine or understand it in our rapidly changing world. We'll also examine the human right to identity, questioning if such a concept truly exists, especially in the context of new reproductive technologies and varying familial structures.Additionally, we'll touch on the ongoing work of the Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission, looking ahead to the significance of its findings, which are expected to be released in 2024 or 2025. Join us as we navigate these intricate topics, seeking insights and understanding from our esteemed guests.Read the accompanying blog post: https://lawpod.org/avoiding-origin-deprivation-and-genetic-identity-losses/

In this episode of Lawpod, recorded on the first day of the 'Avoiding Origin Deprivation and Genetic Identity Losses: a 4-day Interdisciplinary Symposium on Adoption and Kinship Rights', host and conference organiser Dr. Alice Diver leads a discussion with KAARN founders Nikolaj Jang Lee Linding Pedersen from the Veritas Research Centre, Yonsei University, Seoul, and Ryan Gustafsson of the University of Melbourne. Joining them is Tobias Hübinette, a scholar in Critical Adoption Studies from Karlstad University, Sweden. The conversation centers around their research and personal ties to adoption. They discuss several important topics, including the right to original identity, the role of adoptee activism, and the implications of alternative life scenarios. The panel also contemplates the concept of 'what might have been' and examines the narratives that often surround transnational adoption. The sense of 'ghostliness' and the sometimes haunting aspects of searches for natal origin are also addressed. It's a substantial discussion that delves into the complexities of adoption studies. Read the accompanying blog post: https://lawpod.org/avoiding-origin-deprivation-and-genetic-identity-losses/

This episode of Lawpod features Professor Aoife O'Donoghue from QUB School of Law and Dr Meabh Harding from UCD Sutherland School of Law, discussing their burgeoning initiative, 'Doing Feminist Legal Work'. They share their plans for the future of the project, aiming to establish a multi-disciplinary network that reaches across Ireland and the UK. This network will involve academics, PhD students, artists, activists, practitioners, and members of civil society, all working together to delve into the extensive and vital field of feminist legal work. Doing Feminist Legal Work (DFLW) is a new network of Feminist Legal Scholars funded by the Irish Research Council of Ireland under the New Foundations Shared Island scheme. DFLW connects legal scholars across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain addressing emerging issues of gender and law. DFLW is a sustainable network of feminist scholars that builds on existing, but ad hoc, North/South and East/West collaborations. Our aim is to create a long-term sustainable community which offers support, experience sharing and mentoring, alongside advancing research projects, policy developments and feminist teaching innovation. The purpose of DFLW is to develop and share experience and practice as well as developing the substantive research and educational tools necessary to respond swiftly and effectively to societal challenges. The network seeks to equip members to engage directly with policy makers and media. We welcome all those interested in issues related to law and feminism to join. There is no necessity to have done any feminist teaching or research before and all career stages including post-graduate students are welcome. We also welcome those from across disciplines who have an interest in law and feminism, alongside those in practice. Website: www.dflw.ie Email: dfeministlw@gmail.com Aoife's Twitter: @aoifemod Maebh's Twitter: @maebh_harding

In this episode, host Dr Lauren Dempster chats with three current Master's students from the School of Law, each enrolled on different LLM programmes. Tom is studying the LLM in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ogaku is enrolled on the LLM in Law and Technology, and Luc is on the LLM in International Commercial and Business Law. They discuss their motivations for choosing their programmes, the unique attributes of studying law in Belfast, and the challenges and rewards of transitioning to Master's level study. The episode provides a broad and insightful glimpse into the diverse experiences of LLM students at Queens University Belfast School of Law. The School of Law currently offers the following LLM Programmes: LLM Criminology and Criminal Justice LLM Intellectual Property Law LLM International Human Rights Law LLM International Commercial and Business Law LLM Law and Technology LLM (Law)  

In this thought-provoking podcast, Professor Shadd Maruna and Dr Teresa Degenhart welcome Professor Reuben Miller, author of the ground-breaking book "Halfway Home", to discuss the complexities of re-entry from prison to communities in the United States. Prof Miller, an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School and a 2022 MacArthur Foundation Fellow, delves into the historical intersection between race and criminal justice that underpins the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals. "Halfway Home" explores the lifelong burden that even a single arrest can entail, shedding light on the harsh reality that life after incarceration is its own form of prison. Throughout the podcast, Prof. Miller discusses the influence of prominent figures like James Baldwin and Nina Simone on his work, and integrates a diverse range of sources, including criminological writing, music, and literature, to provide a holistic understanding of the issues at hand. He emphasises the importance of incorporating lived experiences into research and addresses the ongoing debate around including personal perspectives in academic work. Join us as we delve into the poignant and eye-opening world of "Halfway Home" and explore how the American justice system perpetuates a cycle of impoverishment, instability, and disenfranchisement for millions of citizens long after they've paid their debt to society. This engaging conversation challenges listeners to confront the costs that the carceral system imposes on individuals, communities, and democracy itself, and encourages us to recognise the value and dignity of the lives of formerly imprisoned citizens.

In this episode, Professor Phil Scraton is joined by Professor Shadd Maruna and Dr. Gillian McNaull to discuss their ESRC funded research project, Coping with Covid in Prison, commissioned by and conducted in partnership with the organisation User Voice. This unique project for the first time reveals the experiences of prisoners during the pandemic lockdown; a time when the voices of the incarcerated were unheard. User Voice, founded by former prisoner Mark Johnson, is dedicated to amplifying the experiences of prisoners and former prisoners in the criminal justice system. The researchers worked closely with the organisation to enable prisoners to share their stories during this unprecedented time. The podcast discusses the historical relationship between prisons and disease, highlighting the heightened risks of Covid-19 and isolation for those incarcerated. While prison staff and politicians regularly claimed success for their Covid strategies, this episode sheds light on the harsh realities faced by prisoners during the pandemic.

In this groundbreaking episode, the collective intelligence of LawPod is pitted against the generative intelligence of ChatGPT to explore the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the study and practice of law and the world at large. We also probe the metaphysical and explore the legal and ethical considerations of generative AI in a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation with our most famous guest to date. Sorry George Monbiot! Thanks to the whole LawPod team for their collaborative work on this episode and a special thanks to Peter Lockhart for recording a special introduction. Peter's is the only human voice that you will briefly hear on the episode. The other voices, the collective LawPod voice and the voice for ChatGPT, were selected from the software we use to edit podcasts, Descript. Descript, in their own words, "is a collaborative audio/video editor that works like a doc. It includes transcription, a screen recorder, publishing, and some mind-bendingly useful AI tools." We have utilised the software's AI Overdub functionality to assign generated voices to our conversation's participants, we hope to good effect. The responses to our questions from ChatGPT have not been altered in anyway and appear as they were answered, there have been minor edits for sequencing of the questions and some minor edits with regard to the timing of answers most notably in the addition of a few milliseconds of time between a question finishing and an answer beginning to allow for a more considered flow. As Peter says in his introduction we are proud of this episode, please let us know what you think. Guidance For Students The response from the Higher Education community to ChatGPT and other generative models has been timely and measured and recent guidance from Queen's University Belfast outlines that "we need to focus on responsible usage by staff and students and associated ethical considerations to ensure the safe and productive deployment of this technology." This episode sets out ways in which AI could be used, but under no circumstances should students endeavour to generate content that is subsequently used in an assessment unless otherwise instructed. Listeners are encouraged to think critically about the responses produced by the AI in the episode, particularly in light of academic ethics and integrity standards, rather than to accept them as uncontentious facts.  Pay close attention to the "Procedure for Dealing with Academic Offences" part of the aforementioned document and the proposed amendment to the Contract Cheating clause. Academic offences are treated extremely seriously by the University and penalties for what would be considered a major office can result in suspension or withdrawal. Links https://openai.com/ https://www.descript.com/ Quality Assurance Agency Guidance QUB Guidance AI generated cover art for the episode using Midjourney