*/
Youth Court Guide (5th edition)
ISBN: 978 184766 982 7
October 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Price: £70
Youth Court hearings can be much more complicated than is often assumed. Leaving aside for a moment the fact that you are dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society – children – and all the added complications that come with that, there are differences in procedure, court composition and sentencing to contend with. How convenient then to have these differences set out in one easy to read handbook.
The Youth Court Guide is not an academic text, and nor does it pretend to be. What the Youth Court Guide does do, and does well, is provide a detailed narrative to guide the reader chronologically through each stage of the youth justice system. The two authors simply tell you what you can expect to happen at each stage of the process, from before charge (Ch 1), through the hearing itself (Ch 6) and up to appeals (Ch 16), demystifying the whole experience. The relevant legislative framework is referenced, but not in such a way as to interfere with the story-telling, making it easy to digest but not overly simplistic.
Each chapter is broken down into subsections which have been well headed, making the book easy to navigate: each topic is dealt with succinctly and discreetly, avoiding the need to read a whole chapter to find the answer to a specific point. It is helpful that Ch 9 on youth rehabilitation orders is broken down in such a way that all of the requirements of such an order are set out under their own heading. The appendices are a welcome addition, particularly the sentencing cases compendium and the sentencing guidelines applicable to youths.
Whether you are about to start undertaking Youth Court work, or have done so in the past and just need the occasional reminder about particular procedures, the Youth Court Guide is a good point of reference.
Hannah Kinch is a barrister at 23 Essex St Chambers. She is also chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee.
The Youth Court Guide is not an academic text, and nor does it pretend to be. What the Youth Court Guide does do, and does well, is provide a detailed narrative to guide the reader chronologically through each stage of the youth justice system. The two authors simply tell you what you can expect to happen at each stage of the process, from before charge (Ch 1), through the hearing itself (Ch 6) and up to appeals (Ch 16), demystifying the whole experience. The relevant legislative framework is referenced, but not in such a way as to interfere with the story-telling, making it easy to digest but not overly simplistic.
Each chapter is broken down into subsections which have been well headed, making the book easy to navigate: each topic is dealt with succinctly and discreetly, avoiding the need to read a whole chapter to find the answer to a specific point. It is helpful that Ch 9 on youth rehabilitation orders is broken down in such a way that all of the requirements of such an order are set out under their own heading. The appendices are a welcome addition, particularly the sentencing cases compendium and the sentencing guidelines applicable to youths.
Whether you are about to start undertaking Youth Court work, or have done so in the past and just need the occasional reminder about particular procedures, the Youth Court Guide is a good point of reference.
Hannah Kinch is a barrister at 23 Essex St Chambers. She is also chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee.
Youth Court Guide (5th edition)
ISBN: 978 184766 982 7
October 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Price: £70
Youth Court hearings can be much more complicated than is often assumed. Leaving aside for a moment the fact that you are dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society – children – and all the added complications that come with that, there are differences in procedure, court composition and sentencing to contend with. How convenient then to have these differences set out in one easy to read handbook.
Our call for sufficient resources for the justice system and for the Bar to scrutinise the BSB’s latest consultation
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses alcohol testing for the Family Court
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth explains how to make sure you are investing suitably, and in your long-term interests
In conversation with Matthew Bland, Lincoln’s Inn Library
Millicent Wild of 5 Essex Chambers describes her pupillage experience
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth explores some key steps to take when starting out as a barrister in order to secure your financial future
From a traumatic formative education to exceptional criminal silk – Laurie-Anne Power KC talks about her path to the Bar, pursuit of equality and speaking out against discrimination (not just during Black History Month)
James Onalaja concludes his two-part opinion series
Expectations, experiences and survival tips – some of the things I wished I had known (or applied) when I was starting pupillage. By Chelsea Brooke-Ward
If you are in/about to start pupillage, you will soon be facing the pupillage stage assessment in professional ethics. Jane Hutton and Patrick Ryan outline exam format and tactics
In a two-part opinion series, James Onalaja considers the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s requests for arrest warrants in the controversial Israel-Palestine situation