£225 + VAT (member) / £275 + VAT (non-member)
Murrayfield Stadium is the venue for the next event in our Scots Law Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.
Chaired by Neil Hay of Brodies, our new Criminal Conference will cover topics ranging from the preparation of sexual and domestic trials, corroboration and the treatment of children in criminal cases to trauma informed practice, Orders for Lifelong Restriction and immigration. The conference will feature a number of expert speakers including Lisa Gillespie KC, Wendy Culross KC, Iain Smith of Keegan Smith, Jamie Kerr from Anderson Strathern and Neil Macdonald of Brodies.
What's being covered?
Orders for Lifelong Restriction and young accused
Lisa will explore recent cases where young accused have been given Orders for Lifelong Restriction and what impact the decisions taken may have on the advice that you provide your clients.
Lisa Gillespie KC
Sexual and domestic allegations – getting the balance right
Dealing with trials involving sexual and domestic allegations in a sensitive manner; balancing the rights of the accused with the appropriate protections of complainers in sexual and domestic abuse cases.
Wendy Culross KC
The rights of children in Scottish criminal law
- The effect of the United Nations convention on the right of children in Scotland
- Implications for bail
- Special measures when giving evidence
- Practical advice for criminal practitioners
Neil Hay, Brodies
A curious lawyer’s journey to become trauma informed
Iain will discuss how he was given information on the impact of early years trauma in 2018 and how his curiosity and perseverance led him to change his work practise and thereafter to attempt to influence judges, policy makers and trainers to adopt a new approach. You will be given a basic understanding of the biological impact of trauma, why it is important for all criminal lawyers to know, the developments in the law, all interspersed with examples of good practise. Delegates will be encouraged to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
Iain Smith, Keegan Smith
Corroboration in Scots Law: recent developments
This presentation will examine recent developments in the law of corroboration in Scotland, with particular focus on Lord Advocate’s Reference (No. 1 of 2023) [2023] HCJAC 40; 2024 JC 140 and Lord Advocate’s References (Nos. 2 and 3 of 2023) [2024] HCJAC 43; 2025 JC 200. It will consider the significance of these decisions, the subsequent development of the law, and where we now stand in relation to corroboration, including the practical implications for criminal practitioners.
Neil Macdonald, Brodies
Immigration and asylum law overview for criminal practitioners
This broad overview session will explore immigration and asylum law concepts as relevant to criminal law practitioners. Jamie will provide an overview of some basic concepts in immigration and refugee law and will seek to explain the legal status of asylum seekers, illegal entrants, refugees, and overstayers. He will also speak to the deportation and administrative review processes and the impact of offending and/or criminality on those. The session is designed to provide criminal practitioners with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of immigration & asylum law, so practitioners can be better equipped to understand the impact of criminal procedures on the immigration status of clients.
Jamie Kerr, Anderson Strathern
