Unifrog Personal Statements

Kayla Hanson expresses her desire to pursue a career in law to help victims achieve justice, inspired by her family's experiences with crime and injustice. She has broadened her legal knowledge through her A-level studies and has developed a strong interest in disability law and gender disparities within the legal system. Additionally, her activism in social justice issues, particularly regarding racial inequalities, has shaped her perspective on the failures of the justice system and her commitment to promoting inclusivity and fairness.

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Unifrog Personal Statements

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kayla.k.hanson

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Kayla Hanson's Statement for (no subject selected yet)

At a young age I saw the impact it had on my brother when his father was murdered and the killer
escaped justice in Jamaica. Seeing the effect this had on my family made me want to pursue law and
help others get the justice they deserve. As a victim you have enough emotional strain on you without
needing to worry if the criminals will be brought to justice. These exposures to bias and injustices, have
instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility, to help others navigate the treacherous world that is our
justice system.
In my current A levels, I study a range of modules which have allowed me to broaden my legal
knowledge. In psychology, I have looked into the role of the cognitive interview in increasing accuracy of
eye witness testimonies which will allow for reliable evidence, which necessary for a just and fair legal
proceeding. In chemistry we looked into use of chloroflurocarbons and how they have been phased out,
due to changes in the regulation, this interested me in how the law can help bring about enviromental
justice too. The transferable skills in Biology for example: the precise use of terminology, ability to learn a
large volume of detailed content and analysis and clear presentation of complex information has me well
equipped for a career in law.
In the more recent years, I have become more interested in the struggles of those with disabilities.
Whilst diversifying my knowledge on sector of law, I came across disability law and decided to read up on
the topic. ‘The war on disabled people’ by Ellen Clifford gave me a valuable insight into the struggles of
disable people since the welfare reforms in 2010. This book highlights how the changes to disability
benefits have worn systems that were essential to the disability support. I see a gap in the system that I
see vital to be filled for the benefit of the countless people I know that may be impacted by this
inadequate legislation. After reviewing this book, I participated in the Panathlon disability sports charity
event for SEN children who have the potential to experience and be affected by these disparities. During
this day we accommodated different disabilities to ensure that everyone had a fair chance to participate
in sporting activity. This gave me a sense of fulfilment as I left feeling as though I had encouraged their
independence and alongside this I felt I my awareness had been raised to challenges that may be faced
and therefore I am now more engaged in the advocation for more inclusive policies. Following on from
this, I listened to the podcast ‘Health and Social Equity for People with Disabilities’ which completely
changed my perspective on why there are differences in the way disabled people are treated in the law.
The host, Dr Kimberly Phillips differentiates between medical and social models of disability which has
built upon my knowledge learned from biology. The social model suggests that there are barriers in
society that cause disabled people to experience problems, such as discrepancies in the legal system.
After attending an all-girls school I have had first hand experience in systematic inequalities that has
lessened my faith in the criminal justice system. ‘Misjustice: How British Law is Failing Women’ discussed
how there is an extreme underrepresentation of women in legal positions. I decided to read into the
topic of under representation of women and the consequences that it can have. Kings College London
produced an article which stated that gender disparities are not just found in England and it is the case
that 17 countries have no women on their supreme court. Furthermore, research has shown that female
judges are more likely to find defendants guilty of sexual assault than male. This inspired me to read
‘Rape on the Public Agenda’ by Maria Bevacqua which really explained to me why it is the case that men
do not often get committed of sexual assault compared to the number that are accused. The book
critiques the legal system as rape cases often place the blame on the victim due to patriarchal ideologies.

In 2020, following the devastating event of the death of George Floyd, I began to take part in protests for
Black Lives Matter. This was the start of me really taking action to the dehumanisation of black people
within the justice system. The countless murders of black individuals by members of the police force and
the lack of justice the victims have gotten has wholly impacted me and my perceptions of those who are
supposed to protect society. It is essential that a change is made to prevent future generations feeling
the devastation that these injustices have caused me. Recently I watched the documentary ‘Stephen:
The Murder That Changed a Nation’ which was about black teenager, Stephen Lawrence that was
murdered in 1993 because of his race. This really emphasised the failure of the police system for black
individuals as they ignored some crucial leads and refused to accept that the murder was racially
motivated. Following on from this, I decided to do some research into why minorities are failed by the
police. ‘The Police: State, Power and Control’ suggested the idea that the role of the police is to maintain
order and as a result they only enforce the laws that benefit the dominant social groups.

As a friendly, approachable member of my cohort I aim to help my peers. This show my ability to act as a
member of a team and use my confidence and initiative for the betterment of others. As a house
captain, I have learnt how to interact with people from all different backgrounds, ages and interests.
Alongside this, I helped to plan an event to raise money for the homeless. This enhanced my skills in
organisation as well as help me develop a deeper passion for promoting social justice. These factors
embody who I am as a young adult.
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