Miranda, Author at Miranda Grell

Suffragette

I was honoured to be invited to watch the opening night’s screening of director Sarah Gavron’s new film ‘Suffragette‘ by her proud mum Nicky Gavron, my old boss, the former Deputy Mayor of London and still a London Assembly Member.

The film was superb. It was also the first time in Hollywood history that a film’s writer, director and main protagonists were all female.

To be so visually reminded of what the suffragettes went through – the police surveillance, community shunning, imprisonment, beatings, torture and force-feeding – strengthened my resolve to continue to play as full a role I can in the democratic life of this country.

Nicky is right to be so proud of Sarah for having made this vitally important film. We owe the Suffragettes our deepest gratitude and I’m glad this film has helped their own voices to be heard.

Bernie Grant Memorial Lecture 2015

Great to join a panel of amazing speakers at the 2015 Bernie Grant Memorial Lecture, which took place at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, North London, last night. I have been a board member of the Bernie Grant Trust since 2012.

This year’s Bernie Grant memorial lecture was delivered by the brilliant Gary Younge, Editor-at-large for The Guardian newspaper. Continue reading “Bernie Grant Memorial Lecture 2015”

Owen Jones appointed Hackney Community Law Centre Patron

Much excitement at Hackney Community Law Centre today as we (finally) announced the appointment of our fabulous new patron Owen Jones. Read more Owen joining the HCLC team HERE.

The new Trade Union Bill, and a return to strife

I’ve written an article for The Justice Gap about the new trade union bill. You can read it HERE.

Reita Clarke Memorial Award

I am deeply honoured (and shocked) to have been chosen as the 2014 recipient of the Law Centres Network’s ‘Reita Clarke Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement‘ on Friday 28th November, the day after my Call to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

The Reita Clarke Memorial award was created in memory of the late Reita Clarke, long-time Trustee of Luton Law Centre and member of LCN’s Executive Committee. It is awarded every year at LCN’s national conference in recognition of outstanding work by people within the Law Centres movement.

The judges said they chose me because of my “award winning initiatives, (my) dynamism and creativity, and for (my)commitment to justice for the people of Hackney”.

I would like to thank my colleagues at Hackney Community Law Centre (HCLC) for nominating me (secretly) for the award and for giving me such strong support since I joined HCLC.