Rebecca Dooley
Host Organisation: Bhatt Murphy
Rebecca holds a degree in History from Queen Mary University of London and completed the GLD and the LPC at the University of Law.
Rebecca has held a lifelong passion to fight inequality in all forms, but has a special interest in tackling racial inequality, and made civil rights movements a main focus of her undergraduate studies. During her undergraduate studies Rebecca volunteered at the Prisoners’ Advice Service where she produced information sheets to be distributed to prison. The information sheets explained prisoners’ rights under the Prison Rules in various areas including work and education and the provision of care for mothers and babies in prison.
Rebecca spent six years working in higher education whilst completing the GDL and LPC and, during this time, she became active in her trade union. She was elected to the position of Assistant Branch Secretary, where she campaigned to end outsourcing in higher education as well as representing members in grievances. It was this time spent with her trade union that allowed Rebecca to witness the power of small grassroots movements, and what can be achieved through campaigning and advocating on behalf of those who often lack the resources to do this for themselves.
Most recently, Rebecca worked as a legal assistant/paralegal at Deighton Pierce Glynn where she gained experience of police law and unlawful detention, including on a number of cases involving those being detained during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rebecca joined Bhatt Murphy as a trainee solicitor in January 2021 and is currently assisting with a caseload consisting of police law and inquests and claims arising out of immigration detention.
Project
This project aims to empower young people across London to be aware of their rights when they come into contact with the police, and to give them the tools to complain when interactions with the police do not meet the appropriate standards.
This will be achieved through the provision of information resources and training to relevant frontline workers including Appropriate Adults, Youth Offending Teams and social workers to enable them to advise and support young people in making police complaints where necessary. The project will also aim to directly reach young people through drop-in advice clinics and talks in schools and youth centres.
