Young People’s Law Reform Club: Protecting us in our digital life

What’s on offer?

Have you ever wondered how new laws are made? Or how the public and researchers feed into how law-makers decide what to change?  Get involved in law reform in this one day participatory event at Leicester Law School.  You will work with researchers to decide what new laws should be created to address modern challenges in the online lives of young people. 

In the morning, you will engage with researchers in contemporary debates and find out about legal controversies surrounding the protection of young people.  You will investigate proposals intended to protect young people from commercial exploitation and manipulation made possible through machine learning and profiling.  You will decide how genuine risks of physical and mental harm are when interacting online such as providing personal information or engaging in activities which are often marketed as fun such as online DNA tests.  You will find out about instances of young people’s behaviour online that has had a harmful impact on their future lives. 

Participants will be invited to interrogate a stakeholder panel (eg commercial organisation, youth rights organisation, child protection charity, a research think tank, etc.) and actively research the views of that group in favour or against proposed laws which could restrict what young people can do online.  You will report the interests of that group to a wider panel discussion of mock Law Commissioners, ensuring your views are heard by those engaged in law reform. These reports will inform the Parliamentary Bill that participants will debate in the afternoon sitting of a Young People’s Parliament.  Participants will finally come together to debate and finalise a piece of legislation.

What’s it about?

The Online Safety Act 2023 was designed to safeguard children online.  The adult parliament imposed duties and responsibilities on online platforms and gave users rights that were considered essential. Concerns about how children can still be placed in danger online still exist.  Young people might be the best people to identify the genuine problems and suggest solutions.  We want to hear your views.

Participants will explore how the internet has both a beneficial and malevolent impact on our daily lives.  They will discover the risks and evaluate potential solutions which are likely to be the most effective ways to protect young people by creating proposals for new laws.

If you are interested in justice or debating pressing social issues, this is a great opportunity! This event will help you develop your skills of investigation, group work, debating and critical analysis. You will also learn about the law in an exciting area which is the subject of a world-wide public and expert debate!

No experience is necessary as participants will be supported by staff and student ambassadors throughout the day.

Who’s leading the event?

The experts at this event are Dr Jing Wang Associate Professor, Edward Jones Associate Professor, Dr Ruth Brittle, Lecturer and Dr Clark Hobson, all from the University of Leicester Law School

Open to

Teenagers and young adults (aged 16  to 21)

Of particular interest to

This event will be of particular interest to teenagers who are

•            interested in the rights and protection of young people or in the law-making process

•            deciding about going to University or a career in law, government or politics

•            considering or completing a degree in the social sciences

•            studying Law, Government and Politics, Psychology, Business or Sociology for GSCE/A Level