Public Lectures from the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge

This is an interview with the thirty-third entrant in the Eminent Scholars Archive. John Spencer was Lecturer and Professor in Law at Selwyn College from 1973 to 2013. He is Hon QC, CBE, and was Faculty Chairman 1995-97. The interview was recorded online from Professor Spencer’s home in Norfolk.The interviews were recorded, and the audio version is available on this website with transcripts of those recordings:- First Interview (20 November 2020): Early Life and Career- Second Interview (15 January 2021): University Career and Retirement- Third Interview (26 February 2021): Scholarly worksFor more information, see the Squire website at https://www.squire.law.cam.ac.uk/eminent-scholars-archive

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project (CPP) was delighted to welcome Pablo Gonzalez, Lawyer at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to speak on the topic 'Pro Bono Work at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights' on 9 March 2021.For more information about the Cambridge Pro Bono Project, see https://www.cpp.law.cam.ac.uk/

A BBC World Service programme broadcast on 29 August 1991. What is Civil Law, and why does the legal system of ancient Rome still matter? This second of five programmes looks at how many countries' legal systems can trace part of their legal history back to Rome. Programme information is available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03m0hxr Provided courtesy of the BBC.

A BBC World Service programme broadcast on 19 August 1991. The history of common law in England and how it spread across the English-speaking world, adapting to local cultures. Plus, the development of the legal system, and questions arising from recent miscarriages of justice. In this first of five parts, speakers include Lord Denning, legal historian Professor John Baker and Sir Frederick Lawton. Programme information is available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03m0hx6 Provided courtesy of the BBC.

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project (CPP) was delighted to welcome Jason Pobjoy, Barrister at Blackstone Chambers and Founder of Cambridge Pro Bono Project who spoke on the topic 'The Cambridge Pro Bono Project and Beyond'.For more information about the Cambridge Pro Bono Project, see https://www.cpp.law.cam.ac.uk

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project (CPP) is delighted to welcome Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers who spoke on the topic 'The Value of Pro Bono Work'.Caoilfhionn has acted in many of the leading human rights cases in the UK in recent years, including acting for bereaved families and survivors of the 7/7 London bombings and the Hillsborough disaster.For more information about the Cambridge Pro Bono Project, see https://www.cpp.law.cam.ac.uk

The Cambridge Pro Bono Project (CPP) is delighted to welcome Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC, Barrister at Blackstone Chambers; Emeritus Professor at UCL who spoke on the topic 'Is the UK Constitution Fit For Purpose?'.For more information about the Cambridge Pro Bono Project, see https://www.cpp.law.cam.ac.uk

The Parole Board recently hit the headlines after the Government announced a Root-and-Branch Review of the parole system to explore a number of areas including potentially opening hearings up to the public. The review will build on recent reforms but will also look at more fundamental changes.So, what does the future hold for the parole system? What are the problems faced by the current system and what are the solutions?The Parole Board, together with the Cambridge Centre for Criminal Justice and the Institute of Criminology of the University of Cambridge, invite you to join them for two webinars on the topic.There were two webinars: 2 hours each, 8-9 December 2020, 5–7pm.The second seminar, on Wed 9th December, focused more on appropriate reforms.Chair: Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe, Director of the Institute of CriminologyA Parole Board for tomorrow: how further reform could improve the parole system: Faith Geary, Chief Operating Officer, Parole Board. Respondent: Simon Creighton, Bhatt Murphy, solicitorsThe relative importance of ‘transparency’, ‘independence’, ‘accountability’ and ‘public confidence’ Professor David Feldman. Respondent: Martin Jones, CEO, Parole BoardUnderstanding the place of parole within and without a root and branch review of sentencing and of the penal system: Professor Rob Canton. Respondent: Professor Nick HardwickConclusions: Dr Harry AnnisonFurther details: The Government has now published more details of its long-awaited “root and branch” review of the parole system. The Consultation “on making some parole hearings open to victims of crime and the wider public” acknowledged that “the question of whether to allow public hearings is only one aspect of the root and branch review which will look at four broad areas: i) an evaluation of the parole reforms to date, ii) the constitution and status of the Parole Board, iii) improving public understanding and confidence in the parole system, and iv) measures to improve openness and transparency” (para 12).For more details see the Cambridge Centre for Criminal Justice website: https://www.cccj.law.cam.ac.uk/

The Parole Board recently hit the headlines after the Government announced a Root-and-Branch Review of the parole system to explore a number of areas including potentially opening hearings up to the public. The review will build on recent reforms but will also look at more fundamental changes.So, what does the future hold for the parole system? What are the problems faced by the current system and what are the solutions?The Parole Board, together with the Cambridge Centre for Criminal Justice and the Institute of Criminology of the University of Cambridge, invite you to join them for two webinars on the topic.There were two webinars: 2 hours each, 8-9 December 2020, 5–7pm.The first webinar, on Tuesday 8th December, focused on critiques of the current system, identifying ‘problems’.Chair: The Chairman of the Parole BoardThe context of the Government’s root and branch review: Professor Nicky Padfield. Respondent: HH Peter Rook QC, Deputy Chair of Parole BoardWhat measures actually increase public safety? Measuring ‘effectiveness’: Dr Jo Bailey, HMPPS Head of Psychology. Respondent: Professor Fergus McNeillIncreasing public understanding of parole: Professor Julian Roberts. Respondent: Angela Cossins, Deputy Director, National Probation Service.Conclusions: Tom Hawker-DawsonFurther details: The Government has now published more details of its long-awaited “root and branch” review of the parole system. The Consultation “on making some parole hearings open to victims of crime and the wider public” acknowledged that “the question of whether to allow public hearings is only one aspect of the root and branch review which will look at four broad areas: i) an evaluation of the parole reforms to date, ii) the constitution and status of the Parole Board, iii) improving public understanding and confidence in the parole system, and iv) measures to improve openness and transparency” (para 12).For more details see the Cambridge Centre for Criminal Justice website: https://www.cccj.law.cam.ac.uk/

Speaker: Professor Saul Lehrfreund MBE, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty ProjectThe Death Penalty Project is an international legal action charity based at Simons Muirhead & Burton LLP. It aims to use the law to protect prisoners facing execution and achieve fairer and more human justice systems around the world. Saul Lehrfreund MBE has dedicated his career to representing prisoners facing the death penalty in criminal and constitutional proceedings around the world and before human rights courts and other international bodies. He has also participated in expert delegations to Japan, China, Taiwan and India focusing on criminal justice reforms and the potential for restriction and abolition of the death penalty. Saul Lehrfreund MBE is a leading authority on capital punishment and international human rights law and has published and lectured extensively on these topics.The video featured in the presentation is available at https://deathpenaltyproject.org/knowledge/failed-justice-innocent-on-death-row/For more information about the Cambridge Pro Bono Project see https://www.cpp.law.cam.ac.uk