The Law for Lawmakers Podcast

In this episode of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, Fiona is joined by Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws LT KC to explore the role of international law in protecting rights and and reinforcing the UK's constitutional foundations.
Baroness Kennedy reflects on the importance of international legal frameworks, including the Human Rights Act and the Refugee Convention, arguing that they strengthen rather than constrain the UK's democracy. Drawing on her experience supporting Afghan women judges and documenting war crimes in Ukraine, she also discusses judicial independence and the challenges facing the Rule of Law around the world.
Looking ahead, she considers why Parliament must remain committed to upholding international legal obligations, and offers advice to lawmakers on the importance of understanding the law's role in safeguarding democracy.

In this special episode of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, recorded live at the JUSTICE Annual Conference, senior judges from across the UK's three legal jurisdictions reflect on the Rule of Law and the challenges facing the justice system.
Featuring Lady Carmichael of the Court of Session, Lord Justice McCloskey of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, and Lord Briggs of the UK Supreme Court, the discussion explores how the Human Rights Act has shaped the UK's constitutional landscape over the past 25 years.
The panel reflects on the relationship between human rights and the common law, the role of the judiciary in protecting fundamental rights, and the different ways these principles operate across the UK's distinct legal systems.

In this episode of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, Fiona sits down with Lord Strathclyde to explore the constitutional principles that underpin the UK's democracy.
Lord Strathclyde discusses the importance of parliamentary scrutiny, the relationship between Parliament, the courts and the executive, and the need for strong institutions to maintain public trust. He also reflects on the strengths of the UK's flexible constitutional arrangements and the challenges posed by devolution, international law, and emerging technologies.
Looking to the future, he considers what is needed to ensure democratic resilience in the years to come and offers advice to parliamentarians on the importance of understanding how laws are made.

In episode six of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, JUSTICE Senior Lawyer Ellen Lefley explores the relationship between artificial intelligence and the Rule of Law, and what it means for Parliament as AI becomes increasingly embedded in public services and the justice system.
Drawing on JUSTICE’s research on AI in justice and policing, Lefley discusses the opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies, arguing that innovation must be guided by established Rule of Law and human rights principles.
She also examines the growing use of AI in policing and public decision-making, highlighting the need for stronger oversight and effective parliamentary scrutiny to ensure new technologies strengthen - rather than undermine - the Rule of Law.

In episode five of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, Andrew Denny of A&O Shearman explores the relationship between business and the Rule of Law, and reflects on why legal certainty is one of the UK’s greatest economic strengths. 
Denny argues that the UK’s historic reputation for upholding the Rule of Law has long played a central role in attracting foreign investment. Maintaining that reputation, he suggests, will be essential if the government is to deliver long-term economic growth. 
Reflecting on the wider state of the Rule of Law, Denny warns that growing disagreement over what the term means can distract us from our common ground on the issue.  
“The rule of law is vital to our personal freedom, and our freedom as a society,” he tells Fiona Rutherford, adding that he worries “it is slipping from our grasp.” 
Drawing on his experience in the legal and business worlds, Denny explores the complex relationship between economic confidence, democratic stability, and the Rule of Law, arguing that its decline would have consequences far beyond the legal sector. 

In this episode of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, Fiona is joined by Karl Turner MP for a conversation on jury trials, parliamentary scrutiny, and the future of the justice system.
Turner examines the government’s proposed restrictions on jury trials and the wider implications of the Courts and Tribunals Bill. He reflects on the role of Parliament in scrutinising legislation, stressing that detailed examination by MPs and Peers is essential to identify flaws before laws (whose consequences are often long-lasting) are enacted.
Turner argues that the House of Lords plays a vital safeguarding role in this process, describing it as a chamber that can prioritise expertise over politics and act as a check on poorly conceived policy. He also challenges the rationale behind jury reform, criticising the lack of evidence linking jury trials to court backlogs and warning that such measures risk undermining a fundamental protection within the justice system.

In today's episode, of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, Fiona chats to The Rt. Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC about the Rule of Law.
Throughout their thorough conversation, Buckland explores the relationship between parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law, warning of the risks when political rhetoric undermines judicial independence. He also contests calls to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that the real issues lie in domestic law and that withdrawal could have serious constitutional and practical consequences.

In this episode of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, we are joined by Baroness Shami Chakrabarti for a conversation on accountability and the rule of law.
Along with JUSTICE’s Fiona Rutherford, Chakrabarti explores the essential role of judicial review in holding government to account, challenging claims that it is “anti-democratic” and warning against growing political attacks on courts and judges. She also discusses the increasing risks to rights and freedoms (from restrictions on protest to the use of emerging technologies like AI) arguing that stronger safeguards and oversight are needed to prevent abuses of power.

In this episode of the Law for Lawmakers podcast, we are joined by Dominic Grieve KC (former Attorney General for England and Wales and former Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee) for an in-depth conversation on power, principles, and Parliament.
Along with JUSTICE's Fiona Rutherford, Grieve explores what parliamentary sovereignty - the principle that Parliament is the UK’s supreme legal authority - means in practice today, and why it is under increasing strain. He discusses the growing use of so-called “Henry VIII powers” and statutory instruments, which allow governments to amend legislation without a full Parliamentary vote, warning that this trend risks MPs and Peers losing meaningful control over the laws they pass.
 

In this first episode of the Law for Lawmakers Podcast, we introduce JUSTICE’s Law for Lawmakers guide and explore the legal and constitutional principles that underpin good law making in the UK.
Designed to support Parliamentarians as custodians of our democracy, the guide provides practical tools to scrutinise legislation, draft amendments, and hold power to account. This podcast brings those ideas to life, opening up the conversation to anyone interested in how laws are made, how rights are protected, and how Parliament functions.