All news and blog posts

In this latest blog post 'Digital Justice' student Heather Gordon looks at the role technology plays in domestic abuse issues.

Domestic abuse cases have soared during the Covid 19 crisis, with many victims increasingly isolated and perpetrators exploiting lockdown rules [1]. Present difficulties in securing access to traditional avenues of support and legal relief, mean the Government must consider alternative methods and procedural changes to best safeguard and protect those affected by domestic abuse.

Liz Hardie presented the work of the Open Justice Policy Clinic at the Connecting Legal Education event on Tuesday 14 July. Joining Liz on the panel were Dr Rachel Dunn from Northumbria University and the Law Commissioner Prof Nick Hopkins who talked about how academics can become more involved with the Law Commission’s work.

Law students from The Open University have been working with legal automation platform, Josef, to develop a series of chatbots to support the public with legal issues such as domestic abuse and injunctions.

The Open University’s Open Justice Centre has been working with Josef since February this year, making the OU the first UK university to work with Josef to educate Law students.

Lily McDermaid was inspired to write a piece for our blog after working through the free course 'Pro bono work and social justice' which is a taster for our module 'Justice in action' (W360).

In this second guest blog post trainee solicitor Caitlin Alexander writes about the current EU Settlement Scheme.

In March of this year, the government announced a further £8 million to assist vulnerable people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme – a scheme which EU citizens MUST apply to if they wish to stay in the UK after 30 June 2021.

The Co-Director of the Law School’s Open Justice Centre, Hugh McFaul (pictured), has been chosen as the University’s submission in the ‘Most Innovative Teacher of the Year’ category for the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2020. This will recognise the academic whose imagination and passion have transformed a course and inspired students.

Ten law students from The Open University are taking part in a four-week project that will consider the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on civil liberties.

The Open University Law School’s Open Justice Centre is reaching out to support the wider legal education sector in its time of need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hugh McFaul, Director of The Open Justice Centre and Module Chair of W360 'Justice in action' writes about taking legal outreach online.

The Open University’s Open Justice team has collaborated with charity Support Through Court (STC) to launch a free open online resource for learners, themed around domestic abuse.

Its timely launch coincides with the rapid rise in numbers of people in domestic abuse situations seeking help during the UK lockdown.