UEL marks 50 years of law with mediation symposium

The Royal Docks School of Business and Law will bring its 50 Years of Law celebrations to a close with a symposium focused on one of the most significant shifts in the legal sector: the rise of mediation as a mainstream route for resolving disputes.

Hosted by the Centre for Mediation and Conflict Management, From Law to Mediation will bring together leading mediation practitioners to explore the growing importance of conflict resolution, and what this means for the next generation of legal professionals.

Event details

• Title: From Law to Mediation
• Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
• Time: 6pm to 8pm (registration from 5.30pm)
• Location: University Square Stratford, E15 1NF
• Guests: Open to all

RSVP: Jazmine Whomes, Project Officer at cmcm@uel.ac.uk 

Speakers

• Keynote: Victoria Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Civil Mediation Council
• Audrey Dorival, Medical Mediation Foundation
• Tim Constable, Partner, Capital Law
• Sarah Crayford-Brown, Director of Mediation in the Workplace

At a time when courts face increasing backlogs and following the civil justice reforms, mediation is gaining traction as a practical and human-centred form of resolution. The event positions the University of East London at the forefront of that change with its new status as a CMC mediator training provider, and its community of practice of mediators.

Organiser Catherine Hobby, Director of the Centre for Mediation and Conflict Management, said, 

This special event is a great way to bring our 50 Years of Law celebrations to a close, and we’re really looking forward to hearing from our expert speakers. We’ll be exploring the growing importance of mediation in a changing world and the journeys from law into mediation. Please do come along and be part of the conversation.”

Keynote speaker

The keynote speaker is Victoria Harris, Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council. 
Victoria Harris has been a prominent voice in efforts to make mediation more widely adopted. As a former solicitor and now mediator, she is committed to “transforming the way individuals, communities, and organisations resolve conflict”.  

She will be joined by a panel of experienced mediators and legal professionals who have transitioned from traditional legal careers into mediation, offering insight into evolving career pathways and highlighting the relevance of mediation.

Networking opportunities

The evening will conclude with a drinks reception and networking, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with speakers and peers working across law, mediation and conflict management.

As the closing event in a milestone anniversary year, the symposium reflects both the tradition of critical legal education at UEL and its future direction, highlighting mediation and conflict management as an increasingly central pillar of modern industry practice.