About
Dr. Raj Joshi is a highly respected and experienced senior barrister known for his progressive approach and impressive track record in advocating for human rights and combating prejudice and discrimination. He was named one of the Top 10 Asian Lawyers in the UK, and separately as one of the 100 most influential Asians in the UK. More recently, Raj has widened his experience into regulatory work and is now considered ‘counsel of choice’ for serious and complex cases on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Raj joined the independent Bar following a successful career in the public sector, where he was responsible for dealing with some of the most challenging issues facing the criminal justice system in the UK and abroad. Raj provided advice to ministers, drafted international protocols, carried out country evaluations and appeared before parliamentary and judicial committees whilst working at the CPS and as the former Adjudicator to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He gave evidence in the Stephen Lawrence inquiry and made recommendations on amending legislation, practice and procedure including the Race Relations Act.
He is a member of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences, a former member of NACRO’s National Race Issues Advisory Committee, the former vice-chair of the Equal Treatment Advisory Committee of the Judicial Studies Board, a former member of the Judicial Appointments working group, which gave evidence for the Peach Report, and a former member of the consultative group on race issues, the equality committee and the criminal justice group whilst at the CPS.
Raj’s legal expertise extends beyond traditional practice, as he has actively engaged in pro-bono work addressing community-level issues and leading cases involving defamation, malicious prosecution, and criminal justice reform. Notable cases include D v SCB (defamation and malicious prosecution in a £100m case); R v K (possession of battle-ready firearms); and R v P (appeal on the Proceeds of Crime Act).
Raj’s contributions to legal scholarship are evident through co-authored publications on legal reform, including discussions on extradition law and human trafficking.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and public service, Raj has received prestigious awards such as the Bharat Samman award and the Lloyds TSB Jewel award for public service excellence. He is actively involved in professional associations including the Criminal Bar Association and Society of Black Lawyers (where he served as Chair from 2000 to 2001).
He has featured in The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The Lawyer, and Asian Voice on various topics in the criminal justice system including human trafficking and extradition, and on BBC Newsnight, Star TV, BBC World News and Channel 4 to discuss diversity, equality issues and responses to international crime.
Fluent in English, Gujarati, and French, Raj is also a sought-after speaker and has delivered keynote speeches and interviews on social and criminal justice issues at the London Metropolitan University, London School of Economics, University of Delhi, University of Amdavad, Amdavad Law School and Saurashtra State University in India, among others, on cross-border crime and international co-operation.
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