School of Law, Social Sciences and CommunicationsHonorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Called to the Bar in 1967, Michael Mansfield gained a BA Hons degree in History and Philosophy from Keele University before turning to law. He soon earned the respect of colleagues, mounting vigorous defences for clients. He made his name in the Angry Brigade trial in the early 1970s before establishing Tooks Court Chambers in 1984. He took silk (became a Queen’s Counsel) in 1989.
Mansfield has never shied away from controversial cases, especially where civil liberties are at stake. He has been involved in high profile cases such as Barry George - wrongly convicted of the murder of Jill Dando, and represented the families of victims of the Bloody Sunday shootings, and of Jean Charles de Menezes.
At inquests he represented the families of Tom Hurndall and James Miller – journalists murdered by the Israeli army. He also represented the families of the Omagh, Lockerbie and Dublin bombings, of the Marchioness disaster, and of the New Cross Fire. He represented striking miners at Orgreave, the Newham Seven and Bradford Twelve – victims of racist attacks who defended themselves.
Mansfield has a magnificent track record in cases involving miscarriage of justice. 46 years after Mahmood Mattan was executed for murder, Mansfield helped clear his name on appeal. He was involved in the successful appeals of the Birmingham Six, Judith Ward, Annette Hewins, Harry Mackenny, M25 Three, Newsagents Three and Bridgewater Four.
Michael Mansfield has written extensively in all major broadsheets and law journals and he has appeared in several documentaries. His books Presumed Guilty and Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer have been critically acclaimed. He is the President of Amicus, Haldene Society of Socialist Lawyers and National Civil Rights Movement. He fully supports the work of the Fitted-In Project.
