Wednesday’s Budget offered little comfort - and even less clarity - for those of us working within the criminal justice system. Despite the well-documented crisis facing our courts, prisons, and frontline legal services, there was no mention whatsoever of how the...
Blog
Winter Watchlist: Crime, Courtrooms and Cold Nights In
As the nights draw in and court corridors get colder, there’s no shame in embracing a little winter hibernation. After a long day juggling clients, caseloads and courtrooms, a gripping drama can be exactly what you need to unwind - and if it happens to be crime, legal...
Building Resilience Through the Winter: Taking Care of Ourselves and Each Other
Now the clocks have gone back and the days grow shorter, many of us in criminal defence find ourselves facing not just the dark mornings and evenings, but the weight of another long and challenging year. The pressures of this job are relentless - long, unsociable...
The Practical Cost of Mazur for Criminal Defence Solicitors
The Law Society has now published a practice note on Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. Mazur: Law Society publishes new guidance for profession | The Law Society In a nutshell, the guidance emphasises the requirement for an authorised person (usually a Solicitor)...
A New Chapter for the CLSA: Katy Hanson Takes the Chair as Daniel Bonich Passes the Baton
The Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association (CLSA) is delighted to announce that Katy Hanson will take over as Chair, following Daniel Bonich’s five-year tenure leading the association through one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in criminal law. Andrew...
Justice in the Sun: How Criminal Law Works in Holiday Hotspots
Same crime, different country - how justice varies across your favourite summer destinations. As criminal defence solicitors in England and Wales, we work within a legal system that (despite its flaws) is underpinned by familiar rules: access to legal aid, the...
How the Jury Trial Reforms Could Reshape Your Defence Strategies
The latest review of the criminal justice system by Sir Brian Leveson has sent shockwaves through the legal profession. With a Crown Court backlog exceeding 77,000 cases - and some trials listed as far out as 2029 - the review warns of a system nearing collapse. In...
The Rule of Law: What Does it Mean?
By Andrew Bishop I am a CLSA Committee member but also the representative of Sussex on the Law Society Council, one of 97 seats. The Law Society sees the protection of the Rule of Law both in England and Wales and abroad as one of its most important functions. At a...
Re-entering Criminal Law: A Guide for Returning Practitioners
Whether you've stepped away from practice to raise a family, recover from illness, explore a different profession, or take a much-needed career break, returning to criminal law can feel both exciting and daunting. At the CLSA, we understand the unique pressures...
Unsung Heroes of Justice: The Duty Solicitor’s Burden and Bravery
In the quiet corners of police stations, the bustle of courtrooms, and late-night calls from cells, criminal lawyers across the UK carry out one of the most morally and professionally complex roles in the legal world. Yet they are often underappreciated,...