The University of Manchester to co-host the UK's first-ever public legal education conference

Law in 60s event flyer

Legal charity The Defendant and education project The Law in 60 Seconds are coming together to host the UK’s first-ever public legal education conference from  10am – 4pm on Saturday, 14 May 2022 at The University of Manchester. This event is also available online.

In the face of controversial reforms to human rights legislation, drastic cuts to legal aid and high-profile police misconduct scandals, it has never been more important for the public to know their rights. The Law in 60 seconds: Public Legal Education Conference is the UK’s first event teaching the general public how to interact with the law in an accessible and empowering way. From employment rights to protesting and stop and search laws, the conference will provide valuable tools and knowledge from experts including leading criminal barrister Mark George QC and human rights lawyer and The Law in 60 Seconds founder Christian Weaver, as well as personal accounts of miscarriages of justice from The Defendant’s co-founder Liam Allan.

Liam Allan said: ‘At The Defendant, we are fighting for all people to have access to their legal rights and a fair trial irrespective of their background. The Law in 60 seconds Public Legal Education Conference will include talks and workshops covering 13 different topics from a variety of organisations so that every member of the public can walk away with a knowledge of their basic rights, an ability to recognise abuses of power, and the skills to navigate legal encounters in their lives with confidence.’

Christian Weaver added: ‘As a barrister I regularly see the impact of people not knowing their rights. When I created the YouTube series ‘The Law in 60 Seconds’, my primary goal was to give people the knowledge and confidence to stand up to authority. Embarking on this path made me realise the grave extent to which our law is currently inaccessible and led me to write the book ‘The Law in 60 Seconds: A Pocket Guide to Your Rights’. This public legal education conference is the next step in making the law more accessible. It will leave attendees feeling empowered, confident, and poised to take greater control of their lives.’

The day will also involve workshops by the Young Legal Aid Lawyers involving careers advice, information and an opportunity for Pupillage and Training Contract applications will be reviewed and feedback given. There will also be an opportunity for networking with barristers and solicitors at the end of the day

The Defendant is a legal charity that provides practical and emotional support to defendants struggling to navigate the Criminal Justice System via a helpline. The charity was set up following the experience of co-founders, Liam Allan and Hannah Arkwright, who were falsely accused of crimes they did not commit. Liam and Hannah recognise that all defendants need information about procedure and timelines as well as needing access to mental health support.

The conference is free for the public to attend with a suggested donation to The Defendant upon purchase. Registration is available on Eventbrite.