Emergency Announcement October 2025
We are deeply saddened by the attack on Heaton Park Synagogue on Yom Kippur; and offer our heartfelt condolences. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Manchester and across the UK. This act of violence was not only an attack against innocent victims, but also against the freedom, safety and security of British Jewry.
There can be no tolerance for antisemitism, nor hate, of any kind. As an Association, we will continue our commitment to upholding the rule of law, combating antisemitism and protecting the rights of those in our community and beyond.
We would also like to thank all those people who put themselves at risk to secure the safety of our synagogues and congregations.
Winter Newsletter 2025
The committee of the UKAJLJ would like to bring the following initiative to your attention.
The Paperweight Trust is an organisation which was set up to provide support to people within the community, a bit like a Mckenzie friend. It is not a substitute for a solicitor, but is more in terms of helping you to prepare and communicate better when you do not have a friend to help you. It is a supportive role rather than replacing the professionals themselves. They help people with financial issues, legal issues including divorce, Get, children, landlord and tenant and navigating welfare and benefits.
1. They are in particular looking for volunteers who are capable of using their common sense more than legal expertise; although at present, would like those with property/ landlord and tenant experience.
2. Volunteers are allocated to people who need help on the basis of whatever expertise they have. Volunteers are allocated to a client based on a best match process.
3. Many volunteers are not lawyers. Training is given.
4. They say that (i) there is no need for a practising certificate, and (ii) they have their own insurance: you should ask for confirmation from them directly.
5. It is not a legal advice centre, but rather somewhere to go when one is feeling lost or overwhelmed by one's current situation, which could range from bereavement, illness, financial or family difficulties.
6. Clients are seen either at the centre or at their home (subject to safeguarding checks).
7. There is a family law clinic once a week.
8. They are trying to increase their presence through Jewish press and social media, marketing events and going into schools. They are thinking of other ways in which to raise their profile.
9. Most clients are Jewish. However, they won't turn someone away based on race or religion.
10. There is an upcoming initiative they are calling NextGen, which aims to reach students to inform them of their work and to offer services. The students might also become volunteers and offer intergenerational support to older members of the community.
UKAJLJ Committee
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Autumn Newsletter 2025
Following the stepping down of Prof Graham Zellick CBE KC, we are delighted to announce that Sir Clive Freedman KC has agreed to take over as Chair of the Association.We look forward to working with him and to an exciting programme in the forthcoming months.
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We would like to thank Prof Zellick for his hard work and enthusiasm, and wish him a speedy recovery.
Clive Freedman has been a Judge of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court since 2018. He was formerly at the Commercial Bar, having been appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 1997. He is a Bencher of Middle Temple and is a member of the Northern Circuit.
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He was joint head of Littleton Chambers from 2006 to 2013, before moving to 7 King’s Bench Walk. His practice at the Bar was in international commercial fraud, joint venture disputes, professional negligence, banking and a broad range of financial disputes. He appeared in arbitrations in and outside the UK and co-wrote the section on International Trade and Arbitration in Burton on Civil Appeals. He was called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands. He has lectured on a variety of subjects both in the UK and abroad about commercial law as well as about comparative English law and Jewish law
He is a former joint chair of the UJIA Bench and Bar Committee where he and his joint chair (now Mr Justice Roth) led a fundraising campaign to create the Lord Taylor Music Therapy Clinic in Jerusalem. Twenty years later, it still serves the wider community of all faiths in Jerusalem. He was a governor of Immanuel College, Bushey, chairing the religious education sub-committee for a number of years. He is a former trustee of Hadassah UK (the UK supporter of the hospital). He is a committee member of the British Friends of the Hebrew University.
He is married to Hadassa and they have four children, a son and a daughter, both lawyers in London, and two daughters both in High-Tech in Israel.
Spring Newsletter 2025
It is with great regret that we announce the death on 6 May 2025 of The Rt Hon the Lord Etherton GBE KC PC, former Master of the Rolls and one of our Vice-Presidents. We offer our condolences to his husband, Andrew Stone, and family at this very sad time.
Summer Newsletter 2025
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Clive Freedman KC, as Chairman of the Association, in succession to Prof Graham Zellick CBE KC (whom we thank for his period as Chairman).
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Clive Freedman has been a Judge of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court since 2018. He was formerly at the Commercial Bar, having been appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 1997. He is a Bencher of Middle Temple and is a member of the Northern Circuit.
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He was joint head of Littleton Chambers from 2006 to 2013, before moving to 7 King’s Bench Walk. His practice at the Bar was in international commercial fraud, joint venture disputes, professional negligence, banking and a broad range of financial disputes. He appeared in arbitrations in and outside the UK and co-wrote the section on International Trade and Arbitration in Burton on Civil Appeals. He was called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands. He has lectured on a variety of subjects both in the UK and abroad about commercial law as well as about comparative English law and Jewish law
He is a former joint chair of the UJIA Bench and Bar Committee where he and his joint chair (now Mr Justice Roth) led a fundraising campaign to create the Lord Taylor Music Therapy Clinic in Jerusalem. Twenty years later, it still serves the wider community of all faiths in Jerusalem. He was a governor of Immanuel College, Bushey, chairing the religious education sub-committee for a number of years. He is a former trustee of Hadassah UK (the UK supporter of the hospital). He is a committee member of the British Friends of the Hebrew University.
He is married to Hadassa and they have four children, a son and a daughter, both lawyers in London, and two daughters both in High-Tech in Israel.
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We look forward to this new and exciting leadership of the UKAJLJ.
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Autumn Newsletter 2023
RESOLUTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE UKAJLJ ON THE PROPOSED JUDICIAL REFORMS IN ISRAEL,
6 September 2023
The UKAJLJ is a non-political body that is deeply committed to the State of Israel as it is to the Rule of Law. The Committee of the Association views with profound concern the package of judicial reforms being proposed.While the Committee accepts that a legitimate and reasonable case can be made for certain reforms on such matters as the reasonableness standard in judicial review, the method for appointing Supreme Court judges and the roles of the Attorney-General and departmental legal advisors, divisions arising as a result of the current proposals risk causing a constitutional crisis.The Committee urges the Government of Israel to pause its proposals and engage in appropriate discussions with a view to fashioning a package that would command widespread support.A Background Note by the UKAJLJ Chairman relating to the Petition to the Supreme Court of Israel to Annul the Law Abolishing the Reasonableness Standard can be read here.
Spring Newsletter 2023
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Graham Zellick CBE KC as Chairman of the Association in succession to Mr Justice Waxman (whom we thank for his period as Chairman).Graham's illustrious career includes working as an academic lawyer, university head, public servant, and holder of judicial office. Graham was Professor of Public Law and Dean of Law at Queen Mary & Westfield College before becoming Principal and then Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of London. He was one of the first Electoral Commissioners and Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. In addition, he was the first President of the Valuation Tribunal for England, and he has recently retired after 10 years on the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. Graham is a Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, an Honorary Fellow of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Having been involved with several Anglo-Jewish and Israeli organisations, we are certain that Graham will bring new and exciting leadership as Chairman of the UKAJLJ.