The Defamation Bill 2012 will be the topic of discussion at the Law Society free Public Debate on September 18th.

A panel of experts, including Desmond Browne QC, a leading silk in all areas of media law, and Dr Evan Harris, Libel Reform Campaigner, will examine the Bill, which will shortly be hitting the House of Lords.

The details of the Bill have been hotly contended by interest groups with some saying it doesn’t go far enough in alleviating the ‘chilling effect’ of the current law, while others argue it will give the less savoury elements of the media carte blanche to defame with impunity.

The event will take the form of a panel debate in a ‘question time’ format, and will examine a broad range of issues including:

•           How the Bill treads the line between the principles of free speech, reputation, and the public interest;

•           What the balance of these is likely to be after it is passed;

•           The benefits and costs of codification;

•           The interplay of the law with a diverse press and the growth of the internet;

•           The role of addressing costs in improving the functioning of the law, and how well the Bill deals with them.

The debate will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday, 18th September at the Law Society in Chancery Lane.

This event is open to both members of the Law Society and the public. This debate is recommended for anyone interested in the debate topic, including: Law Society members, academics, solicitors in not-for-profit organisations and students