Speaking up for criminal defence.
CLSA Conference
9 October 2026, Birmingham – Save the date
Following last year’s sell-out success, we’re planning an even bigger and better event for 2026. Expect leading voices, timely discussion, practical insights, and the unrivalled opportunity to connect with criminal law practitioners from across the country – all in a stunning city-centre venue.
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CLSA submission to Justice Select Committee call for evidence on the Courts and Tribunals Bill
CLSA submission to the Justice Select Committee 11th March 2026
Consultation Launched on proposed Assault PC sentencing guideline
Issued: 9 March 2026 Sentencing Council consults on proposed revisions to the sentencing guideline for assault on a police constable in response to change in CPS charging practice The consultation, launched today, is seeking views on a proposed sentencing guideline...
Flowchart of proposed jury trial structure from the Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026
Below is a flowchart from Criminal court reform: Impacts factsheet, published alongside the Courts and Tribunals Bill. It is the easiest way to understand the proposed criminal court reforms and jury trial restrictions in the bill. Click here to download a pdf copy
CLSA snap survey on prisoner delivery
CLSA survey on prisoner delivery Monday 23rd February – Saturday 28th February 20266 The Law Society Gazette, 16th January 2026, quoted SERCO claiming that 99.8% of prisoner deliveries are “on time”. GEO AMEY claimed a 99.7% on time delivery rate. This simply does not...
Joint Statement of the CLSA, LCCSA and CBA on Juries
You will be aware of the Leveson / Lammy recommendations for a Bench division of the crown court. This would remove the right to trial by jury for many defendants. Katy Hanson, Chair, Andrew Bishop, Vice Chair and Daniel Bonich, immediate past Chair, all attended a...
The CLSA response to the Consultation on a Proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) Scheme
The Ministry of Justice (“MoJ”) has launched a consultation on a proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) Scheme. The response deadline has been extended until 11:59 pm on 9 March 2026 Key elements of the proposal include: Remittance of interest from...
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The 5 Cases That Shaped My Career: Robert Gregory
Speaking to Robert Gregory, CLSA Committee Member and Consultant Solicitor at Bishop & Light in East Sussex, we learn which 5 cases have shaped his career in a number of ways. From the most challenging, through to the most memorable... What is the earliest case...
Supporting Clients with ADHD in the Criminal Justice System
Awareness and diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased significantly in recent years. More adults than ever are being formally diagnosed, and many others identify as having “undiagnosed ADHD” based on a growing public understanding of...
How Criminal Lawyers Can Strengthen Their Legal Directory Rankings
For many criminal law teams, the Legal 500 submission deadline brings a collective sigh of relief. Weeks of gathering case highlights, compiling referee lists and refining narratives are finally behind you. But the reality is that the research process is only just...
Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026: An Analysis
On Wednesday 25 February, the Government laid the Courts and Tribunals Bill before Parliament for a first reading. This Bill removes, for the first time, a Defendant’s right to elect Crown Court trial in either-way cases. There has been significant push-back from the...
Criminal Law Trends 2025: What 2026 May Mean for Criminal Defence
By the end of 2025, the UK’s “crime picture” looks less like a single trend line and more like a split-screen: traditional volume crime continues its long, uneven decline, while harm-driven and high-demand categories (fraud, retail theft, certain violence types) keep...
CV Tips for Aspiring Criminal Lawyers
Breaking into law is competitive - and your CV is often your first opportunity to show that you understand not just the law, but the reality of criminal defence work. Chambers, firms and legal organisations are looking for more than strong academics; they want...
The Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association represents criminal law solicitors throughout England and Wales.
Your representative body when times are tough.
The CLSA is the only organisation dedicated to representing criminal defence solicitors in England and Wales. For over 30 years we have championed our members’ interests – engaging directly with the Ministry of Justice, responding to legislative proposals and representing the profession on key consultative bodies.
Our ambition is simple: to have every criminal law solicitor in England and Wales as a member, strengthening the collective voice of the profession when it matters most.
Membership also connects you to a strong professional community, with an active email group, online network, member discounts, webinars and our popular annual conference.