abiodunolatokun

Does It Ever Pay To Represent Yourself In Court?

The Legal Services Board suggest that 1/10 people in the UK wouldn’t take up the legal services of a solie hoice, and this rises to 20% in the black community. I debunk self-representation with others in this short film for BBC Ideas.

Michael Abiodun Olatokun: From words to action on EDI

Much has been said and written about improving diversity in the charity sector. Now is the time for genuine change. Here are four areas Chairs should reflect on This article was written for the Association of Chairs, an organisation I have been a member of for the last five years. View the original post onContinue reading “Michael Abiodun Olatokun: From words to action on EDI”

School Exclusions and The Rule of Law

School Exclusions are often used in an unlawful and arbitrary manner. I explain how and why with my colleague Michelle Kamya below. This post was written for, and originally posted on, the Bingham Centre comment page, which I strongly encourage human rights enthusiasts to visit here. Introduction Lord Bingham stated that equality is a keyContinue reading “School Exclusions and The Rule of Law”

Consult beyond the usual suspects to renew the constitution

The Prime Minister has delivered on his General Election promise of “getting Brexit done”. Having completed one totemic mission, he must now salve tensions that have been exposed by Brexit. The Queen’s Speech contained a pledge to establish the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission to “develop proposals to restore trust in how our democracy operates”.Continue reading “Consult beyond the usual suspects to renew the constitution”

Courts are becoming modern but may leave many behind

This post was originally written for the Bingham Centre comment page. It summarises a submission Abiodun made to the Justice Select Committee inquiry into access to justice and technology with Dr. Jack Simson-Caird, Gemma McNeil-Walsh and Ellis Paterson. An ambitious programme of reform The UK stands on the precipice of legal reforms that will revolutioniseContinue reading “Courts are becoming modern but may leave many behind”

Automated Facial Recognition and The Rule of Law

Originally written for the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law comment page. Introduction The “Miller/Cherry” prorogation litigation was the most widely discussed case heard by a court in England and Wales this September. However it is arguably another judgment handed down last month, that of Bridges v South Wales Police, that will inform and influenceContinue reading “Automated Facial Recognition and The Rule of Law”

The Rule of Law Should Be Taught In Schools

This post was originally written as part of the EU Reconnect project. You can view the original blog here. Poland and Hungary are new democracies where a developing rule of law culture is fatally susceptible to the influence of populism. The leaders of these countries have deployed juridical tactics such as changing the constitution andContinue reading “The Rule of Law Should Be Taught In Schools”

The Rule Of Law Must Be At The Centre Of Brexit

I wrote a piece in the Huffington Post about the state of the rule of law after the vituperative reaction of the tabloids to judges protecting our democracy in 2016. The original post can be read here. Friday morning’s reaction to the Article 50 judgment has made me deeply reflective about the state of ourContinue reading “The Rule Of Law Must Be At The Centre Of Brexit”

Extending the franchise to 16 year olds in the EU Referendum

This post originally appeared in the Young Fabians Anticipations magazine in 2015. Welcome to 2015, where millions of young people debate complex public policy developments in the digital world. They give annual speeches from the dispatch box of the House of Commons, and they lobby politicians nationwide on a range of issues in their communities.Continue reading “Extending the franchise to 16 year olds in the EU Referendum”

The criminal lawyers’ strike and justice cuts: the wrong reforms

This blog was written in 2015 during my time as a guest contributor at the (now defunct) Orator online magazine. The big-ticket news item of last month was industrial action. Notwithstanding the tube strikes, which my fellow Brummies might dismiss as metropolitan grief, frustrated criminal defence solicitors throughout the country have stopped accepting new cases.Continue reading “The criminal lawyers’ strike and justice cuts: the wrong reforms”