The Queen's speech has outlined proposals to "introduce legislation to strengthen oversight of the security and intelligence agencies. This will also allow courts, through the limited use of closed proceedings, to hear a greater range of evidence in national security cases."

The proposed legislation seeks to "maintain the ability" of the authorities "to access vital communications data under strict safeguards to protect the public".

The proposals are set out more fully in the Home Office press release (PDF).

Law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and junior lawyers (current, prospective or inbetween stages) were invited to enter the Law Society's annual Graham Turnbull essay competition on human rights.

This event is now full, if you would like to be added to the waiting list please email events@lawsociety.org.uk

The Law Society will be hosting its annual human rights careers event in London on 31 May 2012.

The Law Society submitted a report (PDF) to the Conservative Party Commission on Human Rights regarding the human rights violations faced by professionals around the world.

Law Society President John Wotton and chair of the Law Society Human Rights Committee Professor Sara Chandler joined 52 others to call on the EU, US secretary of state and the UN to act as a matter of urgency over the Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki's plans to move 3,400 Iranian refugees from their home in Camp Ashraf to a new base that amounts to nothing more than a prison.

The Law Society is calling on the government of Malawi to uphold its own constitution and Bill of Rights after news emerged of an attack on Malawian lawyer and former Attorney-General Ralph Kasambara.

The Law Society International Action Team (IAT) provides an opportunity for pro bono lawyers and law students to get involved in our human rights work. We are pleased to launch a new webinar for those interested in getting involved.

The Law Society's Human Rights Committee has condemned a decision by the Iraqi government vowing to close Camp Ashraf, home to 3,400 Iranian refugees in Iraq, by the end of 2011.

The Law Society held a major two day symposium entitled 'Realising Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the UK on 21 and 22 October', in collaboration with JustFair. Read the programme.