Youth Court Practice Introduction

Youth Court Practice - a comprehensive introduction

Youth court practice is a specialism with its own unique challenges and demands upon a solicitor's skills. Representing young clients is a significant test of even the most seasoned criminal practitioner, who may often have more experience dealing with adult clients. The challenge can be multiplied several fold when the young client also has welfare needs.

Solicitors today are faced with more and more youths who are suffering from psychological problems which need to be factored into the approach to the legal process. Instances of violent crime, often in combination with a multitude of welfare needs, significantly increases the complexity of representing young offenders.

At this course you will learn all of the practical considerations that you will have to take into account and the steps you can take to ensure that you are representing young clients effectively. You will learn about the law relating to venue of trial, bail, sentencing and obligation of local authorities. Legal and medical experts will pass on invaluable tips on communicating with young clients to obtain instructions, information relevant to mitigation, identifying welfare needs and ensuring effective participation of the young client in the trial process.

Topics to be covered include:

CPS guidelines on youth offenders

• Factors determining mode of trial including:
• Dangerousness
• Grave Crimes
• Contested bail hearings

Ensuring effective participation of young offenders

• What steps must you take to assess the needs of the defendant?
• When should you engage an expert for assessment?
• How can court procedures be modified?
• Consequences of failing to provide effective participation

Local authority duties under the Children Act 1989

• What local services are available?
• Provision of accommodation
• Duties towards children in custody
• Enforcement of duties through judicial review

Sentencing, mitigation and resettlement

• New sentencing regime including Youth Rehabilitation Order
• Legal principles of mitigation and youth specific factors
• Identifying grounds of appeals against sentence
• Early release under parole and other provisions

Public funding - what can you get paid for?

• What is "reasonable work done"?
• What work qualifies for Enhanced Payments?
• Funding appeals

CPD hours: 3.00

Registration: 14.0

Course starts 14.15 - 17.30