By Jeanette, Nick, Pottsy, Anthony and Charlie

In the fourth blog of this series, peer researchers working on our Lived Experience of the Law  project reflect upon how they are finding the project, their experience of peer research and the advice they would give to socio-legal scholars designing research involving lived experience and peer research. So far, our peer researchers have contributed to the design of research instruments, started co-interviewing people with recent experience of the criminal and family courts, contributed to preliminary analysis and policy feedback workshops, and been involved in the design of a film about the project produced by the Criminal Justice Alliance and Media Trust Films.

Let’s find out what our peer researchers are saying.

What motivated you to become involved in this project on Lived Experiences of the Law?

Jeanette: I jumped at it! Because of recent traumas in my past which involved the courts, I wanted to get involved in it because I know these issues and because I thought ‘I’m not the only one’ and I felt, with the right guidance, I could help others.

Pottsy: Very similar to what Jeanette’s just said. It was something that was very close to my heart. I’ve gone to hell and back with the family courts, it’s been traumatic for me, so if we can help other people along the way, why not?

Nick: It was the law aspect and the fact that staying on the path that I have done for the past eight or nine years kept me out of trouble and also showed me that my voice was weighted and could be heard. Getting involved with these kinds of projects has shifted my mindset about the court system and the people who work in it. I’ve been bashed around from day one by the judicial system. My experience of abuse and not being listened to by the police shaped my perceptions and just made me think that ‘the law did not work for me’. Now I’m chiselling away little by little to make this perfect kind of life that I can put forward to my grandkids.

Anthony: My motivation to become part of this project is that I come from the care background: we are fighting stigmas and stereotypes every single day. Those stigmas need to be broken towards those who come from my sort of minority background.

Charlie: I have a desire to make the court system more accessible and fair for individuals navigating court proceedings. I was also excited about the research component, especially the opportunity to learn new research skills and conduct interviews.

What are you enjoying most about the project so far?

Charlie: Having the opportunity to share my own story about going through the family courts. I’ve also loved being able to interview someone with lived experience. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience, boosting my confidence and allowing me to work alongside the university in such a meaningful way. Also, going to meet a judge and having a sit-down discussion with her to see her point of view on what we can do to make the system better.

Nick: Being able to talk on the same level with like-minded people. We are in this group collectively with the expert knowledge.

Is there anything that you are finding challenging?

Charlie: Some of the coursework for the research component has been a bit challenging, but we have an incredible support team on the project that’s always there to guide us and offer help whenever we need it.

Jeanette: It has got to be the language – I mean the way [researchers] talk. But it has been a good challenge. It’s allowed me to talk properly and also understand better. When you are working with people like researchers at Revolving Doors and Birkbeck, it’s been a challenge for me but a good challenge because it is rubbing off on me, their tools and the way they deal with things and how they’ve been doing their interviewing.

What kind of experience do you bring to the project as peer researchers that wouldn’t be there otherwise?

Anthony: Care lived experience and myself, ‘Anthony’: I always have something to say and something to give, valuable evidence and experience, because everybody’s life is unique and different.

Charlie: I bring firsthand experience of going through the court system, which adds a unique and personal perspective to the project. My lived experience allows me to connect with others in similar situations and understand the challenges they face, which helps shape the research in a more meaningful and empathetic way. Without this perspective, the project might lack the depth of insight that comes from someone who has directly navigated the legal system. I also bring a youth perspective and can ensure that younger people’s voices are heard and advocated for.

Pottsy: We’ve been on that side of the table, we’ve lived it, that’s why we are involved in the first place. You can’t get that experience unless you’ve actually walked in them shoes and been in them courtrooms and been on that side of the table. Our experience is second to none, we’ve rode that ride, haven’t we?

What advice would you give to university researchers who are designing projects involving peer researchers?

Charlie: Praise and highlight someone’s strengths and achievements. This can help build confidence. Remember to offer the person with lived experience enough time and support as some of the things can be very triggering and traumatising. Adding some accredited coursework would be a massive bonus for someone with lived experience.

Nick: A decent amount of expert learnt knowledge and experience nationwide and get as many people involved as possible.

How has your experience of doing peer research contributed to your skillset and has it made you think about wanting to do anything like this in the future?

Jeanette:  This [and my wider involvement with Revolving Doors] has given me loads of tools to be able to represent myself in the family court. It has given me confidence to stand up in front of people more, to be explaining about my past more, and to be able to articulate myself to go to interviews and to work in these environments.

Nick: I’d jump at this straight away again. It’s contributed to my skills in the sense that I’ve been able to articulate my feelings and get them across to people. My language, my manner and the way that I put myself out there has changed so much from how it was. There’s no way when I came out of prison that I could be contained or understood, compared to how I am now.

For further information, please contact the guest blog series editor: Dr Amy Kirby

We are currently recruiting participants for 1-2 hour narrative interviews for our Lived Experience of the Law project. We would like to hear from individuals who have been a defendant in the criminal courts or a party to proceedings in the family court (public and/or private) from 2021 onwards. If you would like more information or to make a referral, please contact: lived-experience@bbk.ac.uk