Mel Stooks

YJLC training co-delivered with young people gives pupil barristers at Garden Court Chambers an opportunity to explain the law and process to children and to get their direct feedback. Communicating with children effectively is an essential part of providing children with adequate legal advice. Training delivered by @MelStooks @GTStewartSols @YPATweet and Katya Moran @YJLCUK

Tonight we concluded our expert led training with @MelStooks and Aika Stephenson! Thank you to all our newly trained child specialist police stn lawyers!!! Watch this space… @YJLCUK @YPATweet @lccsa @JusticeChildUK @Justforkidslaw @MOPACLdn @metpoliceuk #childfirst

After months of meetings and a lot of hard work it all feels real now! It's very exciting to be at the first training session for lawyers for the police station pilot scheme. The training for lawyers concludes on Monday and then the custody sergeants are next...

🚨 2 DAYS TO GO until this fantastic seminar on Youth Court Funding - Maximising Quality and Income. SEE BELOW FOR SIGN UP DETAILS & FULL LIST OF SPEAKERS ⬇️

Being congratulated by Elizabeth Howe OBE

Congratulations to Kristin Sharp from @GTStewartSols for winning Junior Lawyer Award at the Kent Law Society Awards

@YJLCUK @Bradford_YJS @walsallyjs Really enjoyed today and the discussions we had. Hope @Bradford_YJS are feeling more empowered to deal with these applications and what to expect of defence solicitors who represent the children affected.

📚Double day of youth justice service training today. We are in Bradford and Walsall! We have @MelStooks with @Bradford_YJS training the team on Criminal Behaviour Orders & other Civil Orders affecting children Over in @walsallyjs Ruth is covering everything the team needs to know about children in the criminal courts from procedure and law to when decisions should be challenged in the interests of the child

@_lesliethomas @Justforkidslaw @mediate_kate ⚡Our second panel discuss the role of specialist lawyers for children - Shauneen Lambe (@ShauneenLambe) (@YJLCUK), Aika Stephenson (@Justforkidslaw), chair: Kate Aubrey-Johnson (@mediate_kate), Elena Papamichael (@ElenaPapamicha3), Dr Laura Janes (@LauraJanes_UK) & @MelStooks.

Refuse to allow PAVA Spray on Children in Custody - Sign the Petition! chng.it/kRxtJY6b via @UKChange

This is a brilliant and well deserved result. Thank you to Jenni and Ronnie for all of their hard work!

Britain’s modern bedlam: Teenagers locked up and facing the abyss. Outstanding reporting by @louisetickle @tortoise tortoisemedia.com/2023/05/17/bri…

It is incredibly depressing that this research was even needed. The findings and recommendations are obvious to every professional dealing with these children. The current systems need to change asap.

Dr Hales: make sure you instruct an expert with expertise in adolescence - ideally for young adults too Dr Marriott: remember to benchmark your clients by ordinary childhood experiences -don't normalise disadvantage Puja Nayar: get ALL the info you need, incl from stat services

We are so looking forward to hosting this event next Wednesday, it’s a FREE in person seminar on specialist assessments for young people - you’ve still got time to sign up ⬇️ Getting the right assessment at the right time is crucial to avoid injustice! eventbrite.co.uk/e/specialist-a…

Excellent article. Sadly the reality is that children have to enter the criminal justice system for any help/support to be available for them or parents. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Tomorrow I am raising money for MInd by plodding around the London Landmarks Half Marathon 🐢if you can spare anything it will go to an excellent cause. #JustGiving justgiving.com/page/mel-stook…

@robroballen Or they could release the prisoners on IPP being detained long past their tariff.

Alternatively, Government should introduce an End of Custody Licence along lines of what ran from 2007-2010. Eligible prisoners could be freed up to 18 days before their release date, but recalled if they misbehave. Those convicted of certain violent offences didnt qualify.

This has happened sooner than I expected. Sentencing Council should revise guidelines to keep demand for prison in line with supply of places. That was the original reason for setting it up.

@MelStooks Wonderful news well done - hope you are all dancing !!

So pleased for my colleagues in the Leeds office winning their category at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2022