If you work with children, this training is essential — it transforms how you listen, how you advocate, and how you ensure every child’s voice is truly heard.
June '26 attendee
Representing Child Clients: Fordingbridge and practical training delivered with children
When: Saturday 19 September 2026, 10.00am–4.00pm
Where: The Bar Council, 289–293 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HZ
Cost: £120 | £60 for YJLC members
Why this training matters
Representing children requires specialist legal knowledge and a distinct set of highly developed skills.
This practical, in-person training will give you the confidence, knowledge and tools to represent child clients effectively and ethically. Delivered by leading youth justice lawyers in collaboration with children and young people, it goes beyond black-letter law to focus on how to practise youth justice well.
What previous attendees have said
“This training combines teaching the law with practical advice and the unique opportunity to implement that in a scenario with real children. Hugely beneficial and bridges a gap otherwise unaddressed in formal training.”
Attendee, February 2026
“The training was very insightful and really opened my eyes to representing child clients. Having the opportunity to practise with children and hear their feedback was invaluable.”
Attendee, June 2026
What you will learn
The training provides practical guidance across key areas of youth justice law and practice:
- Communicating with children
Delivered in collaboration with children, this session uses practical exercises to help you communicate complex and difficult concepts in ways children can understand, enabling them to participate meaningfully in their case.
Legal training focuses heavily on knowing the law, but far less attention is given to working effectively with clients—particularly children. This course helps to address that gap.
- Learning from young people with lived experience
Drawing on interviews with young people who have experienced prosecution, this session explores what makes a good lawyer for children—directly from the people who know best.
- Representing children accused of serious sexual offences
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Fordingbridge is one of the most significant recent judgments for lawyers representing children.
This specialist module will help practitioners understand its practical impact and confidently apply the latest legal principles when advising and representing children accused of serious sexual offences.
Key areas of learning include:
- The Court of Appeal’s decision in Fordingbridge and its practical implications
- The legal framework governing serious sexual offences committed by children
- Sentencing principles, mitigation and advocacy following Fordingbridge
- A practical case study exploring common issues faced by practitioners
Professional standards and the changing landscape
The SRA and BSB already require lawyers representing children to have specialist knowledge and skills that are kept up to date.
The Government’s 2026 Youth Justice White Paper recognises that representing children is complex work requiring specific skills and experience. It identifies mandatory specialist training for lawyers representing children as a key reform to improve the quality and consistency of youth justice advocacy.
This training provides timely, practical support to help practitioners meet their current professional obligations and prepare for the new standards that will shape the future of youth justice practice.
About YJLC
YJLC is the recognised centre of excellence in youth justice law in England and Wales. We improve outcomes for children in the criminal legal system by sharing expertise, developing best practice and driving innovation across the profession.
About the facilitator
The training will be facilitated by Shauneen Lambe, barrister, co-founder of Just for Kids Law, Director of the Youth Justice Legal Centre and Coordinator of the UK-wide Child Law Network.
Shauneen is recognised as a leading expert in children’s law and has successfully changed the law on four occasions to improve children’s lives. She is also co-author of Youth Justice Law and Practice.
Watch our short reel made by one of our brilliant young trainers, below.
YJLC Membership
YJLC membership supports high-quality, child-centred legal practice and provides timely access to the training, resources, and expert support needed to meet emerging professional standards and demonstrate specialist competence in youth justice work.
Members benefit from:
- Free access to YJLC legal guides and online resources, developed by expert youth justice lawyers
- Free access to YJLC’s specialist legal advice line, offering tailored legal information and bespoke case support to help achieve better outcomes for children
- Free access to YJLC’s monthly webinars on key developments in youth justice law and practice
- Heavily discounted access to monthly masterclasses and other specialist training, including in-person events
- Inclusion in the public YJLC Member Directory, recognising your commitment to excellence in youth justice representation
Membership Cost
Individual membership - £150 per annum
Organisational membership (firm or chambers) – starts at £400 per annum and all members of chambers / staff can access the YJLC member benefits
Email [email protected] to arrange membership.