Karen Nokes’ latest report into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal
Dr Karen Nokes co-authored a new report about the Post Office Horizon IT scandal in collaboration with academics at the University of Exeter. The report found that the ‘golden thread’ of British justice – the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty – has been exposed as more deeply tarnished than previously thought, and that some defence lawyers acting for the scandal’s victims adopted a ‘culture of defeat’ and failed to offer adequate representation. This was covered in:
Ralph Wilde on Gaza and Palestine
Professor Ralph Wilde told the Middle East Eye that the UN Security Council resolution that endorses US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza is in breach of the fundamental norms of international law, and is therefore legally invalid. He explained that the resolution attempts to codify “trusteeship” over Gaza, a colonial arrangement that breaches the Palestinians’ right to self-determination:
Michael Veale on the risks of small AI models
Professor Michael Veale’s comments during a panel session at a major Chinese conference on the digital age were reported in China Daily. Speaking at an event that was part of the Beijing Forum annual conference series, Professor Veale argued that significant risks arise from models deployed on devices or via cloud services, which are accessible enough for ordinary individuals to run on standard computers and can be weaponised to cause real-world harm, enabling manipulation and fraud:
Philippe Sands on international law
In a comment piece for the The Guardian, Professor Philippe Sands reflected on the effectiveness of international law on the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg trials. He said that while there is “rampant lawlessness today, at least in respect of certain rules of international law”, it is also the case that “the vast majority of the rules of international law continue to be respected and to operate and apply in a manner that is fully effective”:
Professor Sands also discussed this issue in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s flagship news programme, Today. (NB the episode is no longer available.)
Separately, Professor Sands commented on a story about an Israeli citizen employed by the British embassy in Tel Aviv who owned a home in an illegal settlement in occupied Palestine. Professor Sands told The Guardian: “I would have thought the government will have taken steps to ensure that neither it nor any of its employees is in violation of any UK sanctions or its obligations under international law. Otherwise it will be at risk of the charge that it is complicit in any violation of the law”:
Faculty news
UCL Laws ranked 3rd in the UK in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
UCL Faculty of Laws has been ranked one of the UK’s top universities for studying law.
06 Oct 2025
Danae Azaria gives evidence at Council of Europe’s Committee of Legal Advisors of International Law
Associate Professor Dr Azaria acted as expert on the topic ‘State Silence in International Law’ to the Committee of Government Legal Advisers on Public International Law of the Council of Europe.
09 Apr 2026
UCL Laws celebrates its pioneering and continuing role in opening doors for women in law
UCL Laws recently marked its history of leadership in expanding women's access to legal education with a powerful International Women’s Day event featuring reflections from distinguished panellists.
31 Mar 2026