Christmas is a time for Ghost Stories. According to Jerome K. Jerome, the best thing about the festive period is gathering by a fire to regale your friends and family with “authentic anecdotes of spectres”. For lawyers, these supernatural stories are even more fun if they involve a sprinkling of legal history and a lively debate over the existence of ghosts, ghouls and other strange beasties. Whilst lawyers may claim that these creatures do not belong in the courtroom, the reality is that the supernatural has been a regular topic in legal cases since Henry VIII made witchcraft a criminal offence in 1541. Our courts have seen all manner of monster, from aliens to vampires, and everything in between.
Therefore in the spirit of Christmas, please join Naomi Ryan and Middle Temple Library for an evening of mince pies, mulled wine, mysteries and monsters. Discover some of the strangest cases in legal history, in which the Fortean meets the forensic, the bizarre is examined by barristers and the strange is investigated by the state. Decide whether ghosts can solve their own murders, learn about judges crusading to save women from witchcraft allegations and discover if you really can blame the devil for your sins.
Naomi Ryan
Naomi Ryan is a criminal lawyer. After completing the BCL at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, she taught criminal law to undergraduates at St Hilda’s College Oxford and University College London before embarking on her career as a criminal barrister, where she both prosecuted and defended. She now works as an advisory lawyer on criminal matters within the civil service.
Members of all four Inns and their guests are welcome. Staff are also welcome to attend for free. Members of the other Inns and staff can book by calling 020 7427 4830 or emailing library@middletemple.org.uk.
This is not a Qualifying Session.
Members of the Inn can buy tickets online for £10 by clicking ‘Add to Cart’. Ticket price includes a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine or soft drink. Please note that you must log in to book (if you have not yet created a log-in please register first). Alternatively you can buy tickets from the Treasury Office by calling 020 7427 4800.
Unless the event sells out earlier, bookings will close at 09:00 two working days before the event.
Cancellations:
Where we have a waiting list we will offer your ticket to someone else, so please do cancel your ticket if you are no longer able to attend by emailing education@middletemple.org.uk
If you have questions about accessibility at the Inn or if you would like to request support, please email Laura Hacon.
The Inn is committed to improving access to all its services and encourages members to get in touch with suggestions and feedback on how we can improve. If you feel your experience using the website or attending one of our events could be improved, please email Laura. Your suggestions will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Middle Temple endeavours to make the Inn as inclusive as possible for all of its members, guests and staff.
If you have questions regarding religious practice at the Inn or at Inn events, or if you would like to request support, please email the Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator Laura Hacon. The Inn endeavours to make reasonable adjustments where possible.
The Inn is committed to improving access to all its services and encourages members to get in touch with suggestions and feedback on how we can improve. If you feel your experience using the website or attending one of our events could be improved, please email Laura. Your suggestions will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please be aware that photography, audio and video recording may take place at our events. These may be used for promotional purposes by the Inn, including in printed publications, on our website, and on our social media accounts. If you do not wish to have your photograph taken or to have images of you used, please alert the EducationTeam at the start of the event. We are unable to guarantee that you will not be included in the background of photographs that are being taken. Contact: 020 7427 4800, library@middletemple.org.uk
All personal data that the Inn stores and processes is held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Inn’s Data Protection Policy. You can ask the Inn to stop using your images at any time, or request to see the personal data that the Inn holds on you. For more information please visit the Data Protection page http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/data-protecti