Legal Action Group (LAG) is hosting its 2021 Housing Conference on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 June 2021 (two half days). This is the first conference for new LAG Chief Executive, Sue James (pictured), and her many years of experience as a housing lawyer and campaigner for social justice are clear in the exciting and diverse programme and the fantastic range of speakers.
The conference opens with Lucy Powell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing and member of parliament for Manchester Central. Powell recently stated in the Commons that ‘The Queen’s Speech is a clear sign of a government running out of steam, with no ambition for Britain. Where we needed big bold action to drive a mission of housing first—we have tinkering around the edges and a piecemeal market first approach which doesn’t rise to the challenge’.
ITV News political correspondent, Daniel Hewitt, also joins the conference to discuss his ongoing housing investigation of devastating stories of tenants living in tower blocks in Croydon as shown in his recent exposé. LAG’s new Chief Executive, Sue James, in her recent editorial for Legal Action reflected on her experience of representing vulnerable tenants in poor housing conditions: ‘What you don’t get from the footage, though, is the smell. It’s a smell that permeates everything. I knew when a client had damp as soon as I met them. It travels with them, in their clothes and fabrics and their papers.’ The ITV report caused hundreds of tenants from around the country to contact the news channel. Such is the problem that the Housing Ombudsman has agreed to investigate and publish its findings in the autumn—but only for tenants of social landlords. Daniel Hewitt will be joined by expert housing lawyer, Giles Peaker, Inside Housing’s Jack Simpson, and Susan Bright, University of Oxford.
LAG has pulled together an impressive array of expert speakers that will provide a real mix of authoritative updates on case-law and legislation, practical and tactical advice for those on the frontline and thought-provoking discussions on the wider issues in social justice for campaigning lawyers. Unlike a lot of law conferences. there looks to be a bit of light relief with some fun and light-hearted sessions such as ‘tales from the frontline’, an hour of informal story-telling and an opportunity to have a ‘virtual lunch’ with some judges, including His Honour Jan Luba QC, senior circuit judge, and ask questions over sandwiches!
Closing the conference will be the Law Society’s new president, I Stephanie Boyce. We are thrilled that she has agreed to join us and look forward to hearing from her.
LAG’s housing law conference is supported by Doughty Street Chambers, Garden Court Chambers and One Pump Court. Their support has helped subsidise the ticket prices with group booking offers and reduced tickets for trainees/pupils. And, even though it will be online, there will be merchandise!
Early Bird tickets are available until Friday 28 May 2021. To book, please see here.
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