The School of History, Law, and Social Sciences is proud to mark the 20th anniversary of Law at Bangor with a special event Thursday, 3rd April at the newly established Bangor University Legal Advice Clinic. This milestone event, funded by the Bangor Business School Sir Elwyn Jones Lecture Fund, highlights the University’s commitment to legal education, access to justice, and community engagement.
The event will showcase the shared work of the law clinic movement and the cooperative and social business sector in North Wales. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with legal professionals, community leaders, and social enterprise representatives in discussions about access to justice in Gwynedd and beyond.
Distinguished guest lecture:
Her Honour Judge Wendy Owen, a Diversity and Community Relations Judge and member of Caernarfon Justice Centre, will deliver a keynote address. Reflecting on the occasion, Judge Owen stated: “I am very much looking forward to giving the guest lecture as part of Law at Bangor University and celebrate its 20 years. Given the new Legal Advice Clinic, alongside my work as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge, the event will be a wonderful recognition of community access to justice in Bangor and the wider region.”
Following the lecture, a roundtable discussion will explore the role of social enterprises in facilitating access to justice in North Wales.
The panel will feature:
- Lowri Hedd Vaughan, GwyrddNi
- Katherine Adams, North Wales Community Law
- Dr Sarah Nason, Bangor University
- Tracey Horton, Bangor University Law Advice Clinic
- Haydn Jones, Cymunedolig
Showcasing legal research and artistic perspectives
The event will also include an exhibition featuring local artists responding to themes of community and access to law, inspired by Bangor Law’s successful Representing Law exhibition at the Research Committee on the Sociology of Law Conference 2024. A selection of research projects from Bangor University colleagues will also be displayed in the new Law Clinic space.
Entertainment and networking
The event will conclude with a performance by the Higher Ground Collective, a local spoken word and musical ensemble.
Event schedule:
- 4:00pm – 4:20pm: Refreshments and exhibition
- 4:20pm – 5:00pm: Guest lecture by Her Honour Judge Wendy Owen
- 5:00pm – 5:30pm: Roundtable discussion
- 5:30pm – 6:00pm: Entertainment by Higher Ground Collective
This event represents a key moment in Bangor Law’s history, reinforcing its role in promoting access to justice and legal education within the community.