How practising law combats civil unrest

29/08/2024

Following days of riots in the UK, as the dust settles, it’s becoming clearer why our justice system is so important. As 470+ people are brought to justice across the country, rioters; facing charges of violent disorder, causing harassment, alarm or distress and assaulting emergency workers, are being given suitably harsh sentences. But what is often overlooked are the critical support roles that put in the hours afterwards. So, today, we’re going to highlight how practising law combats civil unrest and the successful careers you can have if you study law at Bolton.

What happens after a suspect is arrested?

The UK Government website explains, “If you’re arrested, you’ll usually be taken to a police station, held in custody in a cell and then questioned. After you’ve been taken to a police station, you may be released or charged with a crime.” Once the rioters were charged, they’d get a charge sheet and the police decide if they could be released or if they needed to be kept in custody until they were heard at a magistrates’ court. The magistrates’ court can give sentences of up to 12 months in prison, fines and bans. But for more serious crimes, they’ll pass the case to the Crown Court.

Why does rapid response matter?

Allowing courts to operate on extended hours and empowering police officers to go and hunt down suspects is an excellent deterrent against added violence. With suspects seeing just days between their arrest and the beginning of their prison term, it sends a clear message to other would-be rioters that this kind of disorder won’t be tolerated. This swift action likely kept additional gatherings from cropping up following the initial wave. But to mount this kind of response takes a large number of legal professionals. Could you step in to help those in need?

What legal roles are involved in prosecution?

You’ll likely start as an assistant, court clerk or paralegal, offering support at various stages in the criminal process. Or, if you want to support public order but be even more hands-off, the Sentencing Council might be the right place for you. They are an independent, non-departmental public body that issues guidelines on sentencing. Their goal is to make the legal system more fair and transparent. With more education, you could even become a solicitor or prosecutor - bringing your arguments to court. And then, your ultimate aspiration, after decades of commitment, might be to act as the hand of the law, passing sentences as a magistrate or Crown Court judge. It’s all possible once you start your journey in law.

Skills you need to work in law

A strong sense of fairness, integrity and ethics are great traits to have if you want to work in law. Other useful skills are:

If you’d like to make a difference in your area and you see a lot of yourself in this list, why not come visit an Open Day? Learning law at Bolton is #UniAsItShouldBe every day. You’ll launch an amazing career in law from our warm, inclusive and supportive teaching environment that’s voted 1st in the North West for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times 2023! Come talk to us at 01204 900 600 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to learn more.