Welcome to the fourth edition of The Argument – a critical analysis of the law by law students at the University of Kent.
Firstly, I would like to greet and welcome back all students at the University of Kent. Secondly, I would like to introduce the new members of the editorial team: I am Louise Hatherall (Editor-in-Chief) – I work alongside Sarah Ward (Deputy Editor-in-Chief) and a stellar editorial team to bring you the fourth edition of The Argument. For those new to Kent Law School, it is important to give a brief overview of what this publication entails. The Argument is a critical platform in which law students at the University of Kent can objectively debate and analyse law and society away from the constraints that come with the classroom setting, or the obligations that come with the demands of exams. The publication is written and produced by students whom, by the submission of their articles, steer the focus and content of every issue – we aim to spark debate.
When I took over the position of Editor-in-Chief, I was overwhelmed by the support for The Argument – one of our aims this year is to continue strengthening and building on this support for future years. Whilst never easy at the best of times, the upcoming years will be trying for the legal profession. Money is tight, futures are uncertain and the competition for places en route to a legal career is more intense than ever before. Yet one thing will remain – the right to an opinion. In the upcoming year we aim to maintain The Argument as a free and open platform for students to voice their thoughts on all areas of law, whether it has been briefly touched upon in lectures, an assignment that has sparked their interest, or even just a news story that has brought about education in a new area of law. The continued existence of The Argument requires you, the law student, to speak up. No opinion is an unworthy one.
In this issue we hope you will find a number of stimulating and interesting pieces. We have narratives on some of the most discussed topics of the summer, including the French niquaab ban and the G20 summit. Other articles represent a range of legal topics within human rights law, constitutional law, and international law; others focus more on jurisprudence, such as what we should expect from justice and legal education. We also have a feature on the Negotiations Program currently in progress at Medway, as well as an obituary for the recently departed Lord Bingham of Cornhill, a figure who will be greatly missed by students, academics and professionals alike. The editors of The Argument do not necessarily share the views of the authors of the articles nor do we initiate them. However, we are committed to the belief in the right of the author to air their views and, as mentioned previously, wish to provide a platform for their expression.
I would like to thank the editorial team for their hard work in preparing this edition, the continued support of Kent Law School, the hard work of the University of Kent Design Team and the support of our sponsors and donors. Most of all, I thank our student contributors, who deliver high quality material and have been the most valuable contributors to the continued existence of The Argument. I would like to encourage students to respond to the articles published by adding their comments on the website (www.theargument.org.uk) or writing to the editors on editors@theargument.org.uk.