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Poor advocacy and a lack of specialist training is denying vulnerable young people justice, a critical report has claimed.
The study, commissioned by the Bar Standards Boards and CILEx Regulation, found the quality of advocacy in youth courts highly variable.
Advocates lacked specialist knowledge of the statutory framework for dealing with young people and were not always able to communicate appropriately with young defendants and witnesses.
It suggested that the formal nature of court proceedings and their adversarial nature can impede effective participation by young people, and time pressures linked to legal aid reforms lead to an ‘emphasis on swift justice which undermined genuine justice’.
It criticised the profession for undervaluing the important work of the youth court, seeing it as a place where young lawyers can ‘cut their teeth’, rather than a place where serious cases are often heard.
BSB chair Sir Andrew Burns said the regulator would work to improve the standard of advocacy by barristers representing young people.
Poor advocacy and a lack of specialist training is denying vulnerable young people justice, a critical report has claimed.
The study, commissioned by the Bar Standards Boards and CILEx Regulation, found the quality of advocacy in youth courts highly variable.
Advocates lacked specialist knowledge of the statutory framework for dealing with young people and were not always able to communicate appropriately with young defendants and witnesses.
It suggested that the formal nature of court proceedings and their adversarial nature can impede effective participation by young people, and time pressures linked to legal aid reforms lead to an ‘emphasis on swift justice which undermined genuine justice’.
It criticised the profession for undervaluing the important work of the youth court, seeing it as a place where young lawyers can ‘cut their teeth’, rather than a place where serious cases are often heard.
BSB chair Sir Andrew Burns said the regulator would work to improve the standard of advocacy by barristers representing young people.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
