Adapting to new scientific findings – a shift towards interdisciplinarity

Following 12 years of successful operations in many areas, such as Knowledge Exchange (between UK law students, academics and practitioners), Knowledge Dissemination, Equality, Training, Professional Development, and Careers Support – the UKLSA has shifted its focus towards promoting multidisciplinary research – a shift triggered by changes brought by the pandemic and by a wider societal acceptance of the importance of multidisciplinary work. For more information, visit the website of our multidisciplinary journal, Legal Issues Journal.

Founding purpose

 

The UKLSA was founded in 2008 with the aim to:

• Further advance the legal education/training in the UK;

• Identify areas for academic development;

• Represent UK law students/lawyers-to-be at a national and international level;

• Identify and enhance career opportunities;

• Facilitate global exchange and enhance international cooperation;

• Promote equal access to the legal profession and justice;

• Provide a common platform for UK lawyers-to-be towards improving legal training and experience.

Timeline

 

2008 - The UKLSA was founded

 

Inspiration

England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal system, and each jurisdiction has its own regulatory and representative bodies. However, the UK has a common Legislature and Supreme Court, and acts as 'the UK' at an international level. The founding of the UKLSA was inspired by the work of our founder at the United Nations.

 

25 University Law Societies in the first month

In the first month of its operation, 25 University Law Societies across the UK, including Queens Belfast in Ireland, Aberdeen in Scotland; Leicester and Queen Mary in England, joined the Association.

In Feb 2008, the UKLSA organised its first large inter-university event with participants from seven UK Universities, and members of the legal profession, judiciary, academia and the executive.

 

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2009

Lord Bingham - one of the greatest contributors to justice - became the Patron of the Association, followed by the first President of the Supreme Court, Lord Phillips.  In 2012,  Lord Neuberger, then President of the Supreme Court, became the Patron of the Association.

The UKLSA commenced its first Annual National Inter-institution Advocacy & Moot Competition, where only one representing team from each educational institution can take part. The first competition was won by King's College, London. In two years the competition grew to 48 educational institutions, including the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn.

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2011

The UKLSA started organising its Annual National Equalities Conference, promoting equal access to the profession and justice. The first conference, which was hosted by the Honourable Society of Inner Temple, included student from England, Wales,  Scotland and Ireland. Over 40 practitioners, including Dame Heather Carol Hallett DBE, also participated in the first conference.

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2011

The Association Started its Law Journal, Legal Issues Journal (previously The UK Law Student Review), publishing its first issue in April 2012, with a Foreword by the President of the Supreme Court The Right Hon the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, and sponsored by Oxford University Press.

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2015

To reflect the Journal’s aim, mission, and cross-border coverage,  the Journal's name was changed to Legal Issues Journal.

To reflect our work in matters of law and society, we updated the name to The United Kingdom Law and Society Association (UKLSA).

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2017

The UKLSA organised the 1st known International Digital Moot Court Competition - iMAC Digital, International Moot & Advocacy Competition – Digital