Freedom of Speech and the right to Protest: Key Considerations for Higher Education

Part of our Higher Education Team's spring webinar series

Webinar | Wednesday 15 April 2026 | 12:00 - 13:00 | 1 Hour

In this webinar, Bevan Brittan’s higher education specialists, Mark Robertson, Naomi Compton, Helen Taller, and Sarah Burton, will outline the legal framework governing freedom of speech, protests and human rights, and consider how institutions can approach decision making in a balanced and proportionate way. This session will focus on practical considerations where protests coincide with important events, such as exams, and how universities can support academic continuity whilst respecting the rights of students and others. 

Key topics include:

• The legal framework for freedom of speech, protests and human rights in higher education
• Managing protests during exams and other academically sensitive periods
• Balancing competing rights and interests in a proportionate way
• Practical steps to support preparedness and decision making

This is the third event in our spring series of higher education webinars.

Information about the other sessions in the series can be found below: 

• Wednesday 18 March | 12:00 - 13:00

Getting Ready for the Renters’ Rights Act: Key issues for Higher Education

• Wednesday 25 March | 12:00 - 13:00

Hillsborough Law – Implications for Higher Education Providers and Ensuring Compliance

Aimed at in-house legal teams and professionals across governance, student services and estates, this webinar - 'Freedom of Speech and the right to Protest: Key Considerations for Higher Education' - will offer practical guidance to support preparedness, risk management and careful institutional responses.