Young lawyers debate: is human rights law relevant in combating poverty and social injustice?

10 January 2008

Law students, trainee solicitors and young lawyers from England and Wales are invited to enter the 2008 Graham Turnbull essay competition.

The competition, which is run by the International Human Rights Committee of the Law Society, is named after Graham Turnbull, a British solicitor who was killed eight years ago while working as a United Nations human rights monitor in Rwanda.

The title of the essay was chosen to reflect the trend, amongst human rights organisations, of expanding their remit to include economic, social, and cultural rights.

Essays by law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and newly qualified solicitors from England and Wales will debate the question: 'is human rights law relevant in combating poverty and social injustice.'

Andrew Holroyd, Law Society President, says the competition is a suitable tribute to Mr Turnbull;

“The standard of entries for this competition is always exceptionally high, demonstrating how seriously young lawyers take human rights issues. The competition is a fitting legacy for solicitor Graham Turnbull who did so much to promote human rights."