A very warm welcome to the second issue of the Birkbeck Law Review.

We open this issue with an interview with Baroness Hale of Richmond, who generously granted us some time on a bright afternoon in July to discuss the continued development of human rights in the UK as well as her opinion on the state of equality in the highest tiers of the judiciary. Her keen interest in the next generation of lawyers, and the challenges they face, goes some way to showing why she is an inspiration for so many, and we are very pleased to be able to have her here.

We are extremely excited to announce that the second issue of the Birkbeck Law Review is due to be released on Tuesday 8 October. This issue, which will appear in print later this month, leads with a feature interview with the Baroness Hale of Richmond, who as we know is currently the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, as well as a brilliantly written foreword by our Patron, Sir Terence Etherton, the Chancellor of the High Court.

Our cover article was written by Birkbeck's own Simon Thorpe, who in his analytical piece on Occupy Wall Street and Occupy London, discusses its socio-legal foundation and resulting impact to our understanding of rights, democracy and constitution. James Fisher, Zoha Jamil, Rossella Pisconti and Agnieszka Szpak also offer their views on important issues from cultural defence, to the US regime in Guantanamo Bay.

We are especially grateful to members of the Editorial Board, the Advisory Board, as well as the faculty and staff at the School of Law who have been instrumental in getting the review to where it is now. Special thanks also to Sir Terence Etherton for his kind (and continued) support of the review, as well as to Wendy Lynwood, Peter Fitzpatrick, and Jose Bellido who have helpfully provided guidance on our reviewing and copy-editing processes.

Finally, we would also like to thank you, the reader, for your continued interest. We hope that this review is as helpful for you, as it was for us.

Following the beginning of the new school year, we would like to once again encourage you to meet with us to learn more about the Birkbeck Law Review. We currently have openings for Editors and other staff (read more about it here) for Birkbeck students that are deeply passionate about law, writing, or other tasks like web and social development.

We will also plan a meet and greet, as well as an orientation event for prospective members in November. For more information, remember to sign-up for our mailing list or contact us at the e-mails provided.

(Photo courtesy Jim Moran)