Issue 2 Editorial team
Editors: Walker Syachalinga; David Amaro (editors@theargument.org.uk)
Submissions Editor: Aaron Green (submissions@theargument.org.uk)
Contributing Editors: Sheilah Khambhla; Maria Georgantzoglou; Shalini Ranjan; Shirah Zirambamuzale
Web Editor: Josh Greenroyd (webmaster@theargument.org.uk)
Website design: Nick Poskitt
Production Design: Design and Print Centre, University of Kent
Subediting and layout: Publications Team, University of Kent
Photographs: iStockphoto
Printed by: MWL Print Group, South Wales
General enquiries: enquiries@theargument.org.uk
Advertising enquiries: advertising@theargument.org.uk

Issue 1 March 2009
Welcome to the first issue of The Argument – a critical analysis of the law by students at the University of Kent.
For the last three years there has been a demand among law students at Kent for a publication such as this, and after a lot of hard work we finally have a critical mouthpiece in print. In a climate where education is politicised and the reading of law is
influenced by institutional dogmas, we aim to provide an escape for creative critical minds. Our contention is that an understanding of the law does not develop solely from a top down model; it begins at the bottom with the uncorrupted views of the student. The publication, therefore, provides students with a platform which is free from the confines of the assessment criteria and essential to analysing, questioning, rebutting and supporting the way in which our laws function within society.

This publication is a collaboration between the Canterbury and Medway campuses and aims to provoke students to step out of the boundaries of black letter law and textbook regurgitation, to develop their own opinions by providing an atmosphere where the conservative, the liberal and the controversial are all welcome. To further facilitate this discourse among students, we have created a forum at: www.theargument.org.uk We encourage anyone with an opinion on any of the pieces in this first issue to log on and share your ideas and views.

What you will find in The Argument is a series of high quality topical and thought provoking articles spanning a wide variety of legal areas, critical legal theory and society. We hope that by writing articles students will develop their understanding of the law; this will assist them in their legal education as well as help them gauge how their own views measure up to the views of others, and further allow them to develop their reasoning, persuasiveness and advocacy skills. You will also find analysis of recent legal developments, book reviews, and updates from The Kent Law Clinic at Canterbury and Medway about cases in our local area. Finally every issue will feature an interview with a person from the legal profession. Our first is with Carl Lygo, Barrister and Principal at BPP Law School. The content has been shaped by you and the direction of each issue will move with the student voice.

We would like to thank those whose hard work has made this first issue
possible. The authors, without them there would be no publication. Their ideas and interpretation of the law has allowed us to make our vision a reality. David Gethin, Daniel Thomas, James McDonald and Claire Hunt have put more hours into this project than we could have ever expected. They believed in it from the beginning and their commitment and leadership has allowed us to go from idea to print. The editors and features team have set the benchmark for the high standard of articles and have worked closely with authors to make sure all of the articles meet this standard. Josh Greenroyd, Sunny Jassal and Matt Zhu, their design and artistic skills have been invaluable. From Kent Law School, Joanne Conaghan, Lesley Phippen, Dan Lee, Nick Jackson, Mark Dean, David Radlett, Keith Webb, John Fitzpatrick, Francis Wildman and Ian Grigg-Spall have supported this project and let us run with it. Without their guidance and funding we would not have had the resources to turn our pipedream into a finished product.

University of Kent’s Publications Team, especially Zarina Hawkins and Sarah Openshaw. They answered our endless questions, passed on their valuable knowledge and literally turned our ideas into a professional, superbly designed publication. We cannot thank you enough. We hope you enjoy reading The Argument and support it whilst you are at Kent. If you would like to write for the second issue please email submissions@theargument.org.uk

Madelaine Power graduated with a Law LLB; Walker Syachalinga is in the final year of a Law LLB