In this week’s episode, we speak with feminist activist, researcher, and former Scottish Women’s Aid Chief Executive Lily Greenan about decades of campaigning on violence against women and girls and LGBT+ rights, the limits of legal reform, and the role of activism in creating social change.
Drawing on over forty years of organising – from rape crisis advocacy and police training in the 1980s, to campaigning against Section 28, to legal reform on domestic abuse and coercive control – Lily reflects on working both within and outside legal systems, and on the importance of joy, solidarity, and collective action in sustaining movements for justice.
Lily shares her insights on:
Additional resources for this episode are linked below:
Learn More
Take Action
Find your nearest Scottish Women’s Aid group
Find your nearest Pride 2026 event
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
In this week’s episode, we speak with human rights lawyer and author Nani Jansen Reventlow about her new book ‘Radical Justice’ and what it means to confront injustice at its roots.
Drawing on her work in strategic litigation and her reflections in ‘Radical Justice’, Nani explores how systems of oppression are sustained, how the law can both reinforce and challenge them, and why meaningful change requires both imagination and action.
Nani shares her insights on:
Additional resources for this episode are linked below:
Buy Nani’s book ‘Radical Justice’ here: https://www.plutobooks.com/product/radical-justice/
Inspired and want to do something about it? Check out “Take Action” on the Radical Justice website: https://radicaljusticebook.com/take-action/
Want to hear more from Nani and also get 30% off the book? Sign up to Nani’s newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/y3v8mfwu and follow her other projects here: https://www.nanijansen.org/
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
In this week’s episode, we speak with feminist campaigner, consultant, and commentator Talat Yaqoob about how law shapes power and inequality, and whether it can genuinely deliver justice for marginalised communities.
Drawing on her extensive work across women’s equality, anti-racism, and intersecting inequalities, Talat explores how these dynamics play out in practice, from reactionary decision-making to the lived experiences of those most affected.
Talat shares her insights on:
Additional resources for this episode are linked below:
Learn More
Get Involved
Errata: In the podcast, Jen refers to “a legal challenge brought by Liberty against the anti-protest measures set out in 2013 and brought into effect by then Home Secretary Suella Braverman” - this should refer to “2023,” not “2013.”
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
In this week’s episode, we speak with Scottish Traveller advocate and social justice campaigner Davie Donaldson about the realities of navigating the legal system as a Traveller in Scotland, and what true justice could look like for Traveller communities.
Drawing on his lived experience and over a decade of advocacy, Davie reflects on the structural barriers embedded within the law, the crisis points where Travellers most often encounter the justice system, and the urgent need for systemic change.
Davie shares his insights on:
Additional resources for this episode are linked below:
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
In this week’s episode, we speak with activist and law graduate (and Lawmanity’s new Legal Caseworker!) Amanda Amaeshi about what meaningful access to justice really looks like in practice.
Drawing on her final-year module Access to Justice and Community Engagement at University College London (UCL) Faculty of Laws, as well as her experiences volunteering with the UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic in Stratford, East London, Amanda reflects on both the power and limitations of the legal system.
Amanda shares her insights on:
Additional resources for this episode are linked below:
Legal representation out of reach for many survivors of domestic abuse – The Law Society | Katie Johnson | 3 October 2024 https://todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/legal-representation-out-of-reach-for-many-survivors-of-domestic-abuse-the-law-society/
Not Safe Here - Report | Rape Crisis England and Wales https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/not-safe-here/
Stop and Search ‘Mission Creep’ disproportionately targets marginalised groups | Bradley Young | 14 October 2024 https://www.thejusticegap.com/stop-and-search-mission-creep-disproportionately-targets-marginalised-groups/
UCL Laws’ Centre for Access to Justice: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/access-to-justice
UCL Faculty of Laws: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/
➡️James Douglas, The Distinction Between Lawyers as Advocates and as Activists, 40 Clev St L Rev 405 (1992) | https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1759\&context=clevstlrev
➡️Jennifer Gordon, The Lawyer is Not the Protagonist: Community Campaigns, Law and Social Change, 95 CALIF. L. REV. 2133 (2007) | https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=\&httpsredir=1\&article=1348\&context=faculty_scholarship
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
In this fourth and final episode of our special series, ‘Equal under the Law?’, our expert panel of inspiring activists and lawyers from across the UK come together to reflect on their journeys to this very moment, and offer advice to young activists.
Davie Donaldson encourages young activists to draw on their own experiences to pursue justice for their communities. Sandy Brindley highlights volunteering in frontline activism as a powerful way to find purpose and direction, while Talat Yaqoob urges listeners to embrace new and unexpected opportunities.
Andy Sirel speaks about seeking opportunity where others see difficulty and treating everyone with dignity, while Lily Greenan reflects on courage and the importance of recording and learning from your journey. Amanda Amaeshi and Satwat Rehman address resilience in the face of criticism and self-doubt, emphasising the need to stay rooted in your values and remember why you campaign.
Pheona Matovu underscores authenticity and integrity, Heather Fisken champions collectivising with others, and Tressa Burke reminds us to rise again after setbacks. Alison Pickup closes with a call for patience, encouraging young activists to take time to understand their skills, motivations and networks of solidarity.
Join us as we close this series with encouragement for aspiring changemakers. What does it take not only to fight for justice, but to sustain that fight over time? And how can activists carve out a path that is both principled and personally fulfilling?
...
Resources:
Young Leaders: Everyone has a role to play to make the world a better place | 30 October 2024 | Amanda Amaeshi
[https://thewowfoundation.com/news/young-leaders-everyone-has-a-role-to-play-to-make-the-world-a-better-place/](https://thewowfoundation.com/news/young-leaders-everyone-has-a-role-to-play-to-make-the-world-a-better-place/ "https://thewowfoundation.com/news/young-leaders-everyone-has-a-role-to-play-to-make-the-world-a-better-place/")
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
In this third and final episode of our special series, ‘Equal under the Law?’, we delve into the complex relationship between law and social justice through the voices of inspiring activists from Scotland. We explore the pivotal question: “What does justice look like?"
In this second episode of our special series, ‘Equal under the Law?’, we explore whether the law serves as a barrier or a tool for marginalised communities striving for equality, with a little help our expert panel of 11 inspiring activist leaders from Scotland.
(Content warning: This episode discusses experiences of discrimination, violence, and trauma. Please take care while listening.)
Our guests, including Talat Yaqoob, Pinar Aksu, and Tim Hopkins, critically examine how the law and the legal system can both empower and hinder progress. While they recognise the law's potential to secure safety and protection, they also highlight its role in perpetuating systemic inequalities. As we hear from Pheona Matovu and Satwat Rehman, the design and implementation of laws often reflect societal biases that exclude marginalised voices.
Throughout the episode, we confront the barriers faced by individuals seeking justice, including access to legal advice and representation and the emotional toll of pursuing legal remedies, as highlighted by Heather Fisken. Amanda Amaeshi and Tressa Burke shed light on the practical challenges within the legal system, while Sandy Brindley underscores the importance of legal reform as both a necessity for safety and an educative tool for societal change.
Join us as we navigate these critical discussions, seeking to better understand the role of law in the ongoing fight for equality and justice. Can the law truly be a force for good, or does it remain an obstacle for those in need?
Find out more at https://lawmanity.com/podcast/
In this first episode of our special series, “Equal under the Law?," we delve into the complex relationship between law and social justice through the voices of inspiring activists from Scotland. We explore the pivotal question: "Does the law treat you and your community equally?" Our guests, including Pheona Matovu, Satwat Rehman, and Pinar Aksu, share their experiences and insights on how the legal system often perpetuates systemic inequalities rather than addressing them.
(Content warning: This episode discusses experiences of discrimination, violence, and trauma. Please take care while listening.)
Pheona Matovu, founder of Radiant and Brighter, discusses the inherent biases in the law that disproportionately affect racialised communities, while Satwat Rehman highlights the exclusionary practices faced by single-parent families. Pinar Aksu reflects on the historical roots of immigration laws and their ongoing impact on asylum seekers, revealing a troubling disconnect between legislation and the lived experiences of those it is meant to serve.
Throughout the episode, we hear from a range of activists, including Tim Hopkins, who reflects on the progress made for LGBT+ rights, and Sandy Brindley, who addresses the ongoing challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence. The conversations reveal a consensus: while some progress has been made, the law often fails to provide equitable treatment for marginalised groups.
As we navigate these critical discussions, we also consider the emotional toll of engaging with a legal system that can feel alien and intimidating. Activist Davie Donaldson shares poignant stories of families struggling to claim their rights within a bureaucratic legal system designed without their input.
Join us as we question whether the law can ever truly treat everyone equally and whether it can be wielded with the humanity that our society desperately needs.
Find out more at https://lawmanity.com/podcast/
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co
This week's, we talk to activist lawyer, Maria McCloskey, former director of Public Interest Litigation Support in Belfast, NI about how she worked with grassroots climate justice activists - the Stop Whitehead Oil Terminal (SWOT) campaign - to bring a successful legal challenge to plans to develop a major fossil fuel terminal in a quiet seaside town near Belfast.
Learn more:
Find out more at https://lawmanity.pinecast.co