The Law School Belonging Project: 2025/2026 event series

11th October 2025, 10 - 11am: Student Coffee Event – Balancing work and study

Current OU Law Student Ashley Mackie will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss balancing work and study. Students may find this a useful opportunity to meet other students and interact with them, sharing experiences about studying while working.

18th October 2025, 10 - 11am: Student Coffee Event – Why study law: reflections on how I ended up studying for a Law degree

Current OU Law Student Brian Buckley will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss his reasons and motivations for studying law. This is an opportunity to meet other students and to discuss your reasons for studying for an OU law degree. This may be of particular interest to new level one students starting their studies.

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4th November 2025, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee event – Working as a criminal defence lawyer

Sarah Powell, Associate Lecturer, is hosting an online Academic Coffee Event to discuss working as a criminal defence lawyer. Students with an interest in criminal law are encouraged to come along and interact with other students in a similar position, as well as speak with Sarah about the realities of working as a criminal defence lawyer.

6th November 2025, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – Free to Bleed: Data-Driven Advocacy and Art for Menstrual Justice

Presented by Sophie Doherty, Host – Helen Waller

WARNING: will contain images of blood/menstruation and nudity

This guest lecture by lecturer-in-law Sophie Doherty will introduce the "Free to Bleed" project. This is a project that seeks to address menstrual inequity through a dual approach of primary research and creative artistic advocacy. This initiative not only aims to generate meaningful data but also to cultivate cultural change through a vibrant, interdisciplinary campaign that combines the power of art, community engagement, and data-driven storytelling. The lecture also provides viewers with information on how to get involved with the project.

8th November 2025, 12 - 1pm: Student Coffee Event – Studying as a mature student (over 50)

Current OU Law Student, Debbie Perry will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss studying as a mature students. Students in a similar position are encouraged to come along and meet other mature students.

15th November 2025, 10 - 11am: Student Coffee Event: Challenges of studying, caring and building networks to aid your carer

Current OU Law Student, Rebekah Zammette, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss the challenges of building a network to aid your career while studying and bringing up a family or being a carer. Students who can relate to this or who may find this useful are encouraged to come and join in and meet students in a similar position.

20th November 2025, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – Nuremberg War Trials: The Reckoning

Presented by Kevin McNearney, Host – Debbie Wood

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the commencement of the Nuremberg War Trials. Associate Lecturer and practicing barrister, Kevin McNerney will be giving a talk on the process by which the trial came to be held and whether it was ‘victors’ justice’ or the beginning of international law holding to account those who violate human rights.

27th November 2025, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – Working as a solicitor with ADHD

Yolanda Bryant, Associate Lecturer, is hosting an online Academic Coffee Event where she will be discussing her experiences of studying and working as a solicitor who is neurodivergent. Yolanda will share some personal experiences of navigating the workplace, disclosing her neurodivergence to employers and sourcing and accessing support. This coffee event is an opportunity to meet other students who are interested in neurodiversity and talk about issues facing students and lawyers who are neurodivergent.

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4th December 2025, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – The Magistrates Court

Kate Hammond, Associate Lecturer and Court Magistrate, and Fiona MacDonald, Teaching Director and former court legal adviser, are hosting an online Academic Coffee Event to meet and discuss with students their experience of working in a magistrates court as a volunteer magistrate and court legal adviser. Students interested in volunteering or working in the magistrates court are encouraged to come along to chat with Kate, Fiona and other students in a similar position.

9th December 2025, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – Unlocking criminal law: evaluating a virtual courtroom simulation to enhance students’ learning of criminal law

This presentation by Senior lecturer-in-law Francine Ryan will report on an innovative virtual courtroom simulation that incorporated interactive escape room challenges and quizzes to enhance Level 1 criminal law students’ understanding and application of key concepts. It will discuss the findings from the evaluation to consider the effectiveness of the simulation in consolidating student learning and supporting engagement with criminal law.

13th December 2025, 10 - 11am: Student Coffee Event – Studying with Caring responsibilities.

Current OU Law Student, Bruna Andreia, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss their experiences of studying with caring responsibilities. Students in a similar situation are encouraged to come along to share their experiences and support each other.

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15th January 2026, 7 - 8pm: Student Coffee Event – Studying for a new career while serving in His Majesty’s services

Current OU Law Student, James Kirkhouse, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to share his experiences of studying while serving in the armed forces. Students in a similar position, or with family members serving in His Majesty’s service, are encouraged to come along and share their experiences.

19th January 2026, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – Becoming a lawyer later in life

Susan Lilley, Associate Lecturer, is hosting an online Academic Coffee Event about her experience of becoming a lawyer later in life. Students in a similar position may find this insightful, so come along to meet other students and speak with Susan about her experience.

22nd January 2026, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – The EU conclusion of the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability and EU asylum law

Presented by Mariza Agveri, Host Helen Waller

On the anniversary of the EU conclusion of the Convention for the Rights of Persons with disabilities, this presentation by Associate Lecturer Mariza Agveri examines the relationship between the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), with a focus on the rights of disabled asylum seekers and refugees. While the CRPD applies to all persons with disabilities irrespective of nationality, its implementation within EU asylum law raises complex questions of competence, interpretation, and enforcement. The presentation argues that while the CRPD should guide interpretation of EU asylum law, significant challenges remain regarding its enforceability, the identification of applicants with disabilities, and the recognition of disability as a ground of persecution.

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5th February 2026, 7 - 8pm: Student Coffee Event – Studying with English as a second language

Current OU Law Student, Olha Savchuk, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss studying with English as a second language. Students in a similar position are welcomed to come and share their experiences and meet fellow students.

11th February 2026, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – im is not no robber”: Black collective action and the justice campaign for George Lindo

Presented by Andrew Gilbert, Host Debbie Wood

In February 1978, George Lindo, a 26 year old Black man, was convicted at Leeds Crown Court of robbing a betting shop based on a confession fabricated by police officers. He received a two-year prison sentence but was freed by the Court of Appeal after serving over a year. This presentation by Andrew Gilbert, Associate Dean for Curriculum and partnership and senior law lecturer, argues that the justice campaign for George Lindo is an important part of the history of the British anti-racist movement which has not yet been researched from a legal perspective.

24th February 2026, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – A 20th century women solicitor: I had to have my own practice

Tamsin Morris, Associate Lecturer, is hosting an online Academic Coffee Event to discuss her career as a female solicitor working in the 20th Century, working before the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 was introduced. This will be of interest to students wanting to discuss working as a lawyer and changes in the profession over the last 50 years. It is an opportunity to meet and talk with Tamsin and other students.

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7th March 2026, 10 - 11am: Student Coffee Event – The challenges of building a legal career with a non-traditional background

Current OU Law Student, Puiyin Labial, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss the challenges of building a legal career with a non-traditional background. Students interested in this are welcomed to come and share their experiences and meet students in a similar position.

12th March 2026, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – Working and studying with anxiety

Liz Hardie and Carol Edwards, senior lecturers-in-law, are hosting an online Academic Coffee Event to discuss working and studying with anxiety. Liz will discuss her experiences of working and studying with a generalised anxiety disorder, while Carol will share her experiences living and supporting a family member with anxiety. Students in a similar position or who feel that this could benefit them are encouraged to come and talk with Liz, Carol and other students.

26 March 2026, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – Campaigning for justice: modern slavery

Presented by Deborah Wood, Host Helen Waller

This lecture by Associate Lecturer Deborah Wood will consider what we mean by modern slavery and will explore its prevalence both in the UK, and globally. It will consider the role of businesses in combatting modern slavery and will ask whether a decade of corporate reporting on modern slavery, following the implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, has made any real difference.

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15th April 2026, 7.30 - 8.30pm: Guest Lecture – Legal Architecture: Design, Function, Symbolism

Presented by James Campbell, Host – Helen Waller

From the theatre of trials to the spectacle of public punishment, visual and aesthetic dimensions of the law in action have long captured the public imagination. However, it is only quite recently that we have begun to think seriously about how the design of courtrooms and court buildings may play a role in the outcomes of dispute resolution. Drawing on a range of examples from different jurisdictions, this session by PhD student James Campbell will explore the ways in which exterior architecture and internal design support the operation of courts, communicate the symbolism of law, and at times, fail to materialise justice as we might hope.

28th April 2026, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – Working as a lawyer

Frances Lyons, Associate Lecturer, is hosting an online Academic Coffee Event to discuss her experiences working as a lawyer. Students interested in a legal career or wanting to find out more are encouraged to come along and speak with Frances and other students in a similar situation.

30th April 2026, 10 - 11am: Student Coffee Event – How volunteering can aid your career

Current OU Law Students, Yahya Akhter & Loz Harris, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss volunteering and how this can aid your career. Students interested in this are encouraged to come to discuss this with Loz, Yahya and other students.

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6th May 2026, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – The role of the human right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in embedding the rule of law’

Presented by Jessica Giles, Host Debbie Wood

Senior lecturer-in-law Jessica Giles will talk about her research into the human right to freedom of thought conscience and religion (FTCR) in the global context, analysing global measures of rule of law implementation, freedom of thought, conscience and religion compliance, and the happiness index to assess the extent to which there is a necessary overlap between FTCR and the rule of law.

11th May 2026, 7 - 8pm: Guest Lecture – Validity Issues in Researching Human Rights

Presented by Wannette Van-Eg-Dom-Tuinstra, Host – Debbie Wood

Research in human rights engages a number of validity issues which are often overlooked. It is not enough to be passionate about human rights to conduct research and zealous researchers may neglect methodology for precisely this reason. Despite an ontological certainty in the absolute good of human rights, it is important for human rights researchers to mind their methods. For if indeed they are convinced beyond all doubt of the absolute moral worthiness of human rights, then methodological rigour and credible, accurate and impartial reporting can only increase the effectiveness of human rights defenders. This presentation by Head of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility and lecturer Wannette Van-Eg-Dom-Tuinstra discusses some of the validity issues in human rights research and how to ensure that the continuation and development of valid human rights research.

14th May 2026, 7 - 8pm: Student Coffee Event – Studying in Ireland

Current OU Law Student, Sebastain Weir, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event to discuss studying in Ireland. Students in a similar situation are encouraged to attend and meet fellow students.

15th May 2026, 7 - 8pm: Academic Coffee Event – Working as a law teacher

Gillian Mawdsley, Associate Lecturer, is hosting an online Academic Coffee Event and will be discussing her work as a law teacher or legal academic. Students who are interested in this as a career are encouraged to come along to chat with Gillian and meet other students in a similar situation.

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4th June 2026, 6.30 - 7.30pm: Student Coffee Event – Let’s Chat

Current OU Law Student, Corey Lee, will be hosting an online Student Coffee Event for students to come along and chat about how their studies are going or anything else they want to discuss. Do come along and meet fellow students.

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