Criminal law and human rights: Prof Leslie Thomas KC and Prof Dimitrios Giannoulopoulos in conversation

Prof Leslie Thomas KC (Garden Court Chambers and Professor of Law, Gresham College) and Prof Dimitrios Giannoulopoulos (Goldsmiths University of London and Associate Tenant, Garden Court Chambers) will be in conversation, 'interrogating' each other on how legal theory and legal practice can work together, on criminal law and human rights.

Drawing on their research, practice and public engagement work, and at a deeper and more personal level, they will discuss what has attracted them to these areas of law and legal practice, and the aspirations they have, for themselves, their students, their profession, and academic areas of interest, in the future.

Prof Leslie Thomas KC and Prof Dimitrios Giannoulopoulos will begin by highlighting their respective specialisations in civil liberties, police actions, human rights and criminal law, emphasising the interconnected nature of these areas, demonstrating how they complement each other in the broader legal landscape.

They will share their personal journeys and motivations to focusing in these legal areas, underscoring the importance of these areas in protecting individual freedoms.

Prof Thomas KC and Prof Giannoulopoulos will then go on to discuss how legal theory and practice intertwine in both civil liberties and criminal law, providing examples from their criminal, civil liberties and police actions cases, showcasing the practical application of legal theories in real-world situations.

Before closing the conversation with a Q&A with the audience, Prof Thomas KC and Prof Giannoulopoulos will explore opportunities for collaboration between civil liberties, police actions, and criminal law practitioners, discussing cases or scenarios where both perspectives are essential, demonstrating the synergy between the specialisations. They will also look to the future, discussing their aspirations for the future of criminal law, civil liberties, police actions, and human rights, addressing the evolving challenges in these areas.

This event is part of the Lewisham Law Challenge and the "Beyond the Classroom" Initiative.

This in-person event is for students wanting to develop a career in law.