Foreword

Every day, the legal landscape of the world is changing. Law is, after all, dynamic: an evolving mechanism rather than a fixed monolith of statue and precedent, the product of an ongoing social conversation. This conversation can achieve incredible things: our entire modern system of rights and freedoms exists because people fought to have their voices heard time and again. But the inverse is also true: when these voices aren’t heard, the law can become a weapon of suppression. As the UK stands poised to reject the statutes of the ECHR, such a situation seems increasingly likely, and it’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a system that appears unchangeable.

However, we are not powerless: though the law can be weaponized, it can also be utilised to take a stand against this erosion of rights, a tool to make ourselves heard. The best way by far to make ourselves heard, to be able to use the law to enact positive change, is to understand it.

Which is why I’m so excited to present the St Olave’s Law Journal 2023, encompassing the interests, passions, and voices of enterprising young lawyers from across the school. By taking an interest in the field, we hope to encourage all of you to find your voice in the conversation, to make yourselves heard, and join the fight to change society for the better.

By Joe Davies, Editor