The significant developments in recent years around protest law make this seminar a must-watch, as it covers protests such as the vigil for Sarah Everard and subsequent protests, the Black Lives Matter movement and Extinction Rebellion. In particular, Maria details:

• Social/political context
• Legal background
• BLM
• Sarah Everard
• Lockdown and climate protests, including Just Stop Oil, Insulate Britain, Extinction Rebellion
• Blocking roads outside Parliament and the M25
• Climbing on oil tankers at oil terminals
• Government reactions
• New offences
• Stop & Search powers
• SDPOs
• Implications and criticism

Relevant law

• Public Order Bill
• Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
• Articles 10 and 11 ECHR
• Article 8 and Article 14 ECHR
• Ziegler, Cuciurean, AG Ref No 1 2022 (Colston)
• Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland (Abortion Services Bill)
• ECHR cases

Maria is a pupil, specialising in Crime and Housing. In her crime seat, Maria assisted with a wide range of defence cases in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts, as well as the Court of Appeal. A number of these have involved defences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Additionally, she has been involved in several cases with mental health aspects, including where a Trial of Fact has been conducted. She has also gained experience related to inquests into death in custody, and parole hearings.

In her Housing seat, Maria is currently observing and working a variety of areas including the prosecution of landlords under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, homelessness and allocations, possession claims and cases involving anti-social behaviour. Many of these cases have also involved issues under the Equality Act 2010.