The legal legacies of slavery and empire

The UK's laws and constitution draws heavily on the past and tradition for its legitimacy and authority. Magna Carta, signed in 1215, is often cited as a justification for trial by jury. But as lawyers, we do better at remembering some events than others. We will explore the operation of colonial corporations, and how the UK's involvement in the slave trade has continued to shape the country's laws well into the 21st century.