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THE DUTY SOLICITOR AT THE MAGISTRATES’ COURT

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CONTENT

 

This course covers the following 20 points and many more:

 

1 – The bail position of anyone attending the Magistrates’ Court on a Requisition – the High Court decision (no name as the case may be ongoing) – [2020] EWHC 452 (Admin)



2 – The definitive definition of ‘dishonesty’ from the Court of Appeal – David Barton/Rosemary Booth [2020] EWCA Crim 575



3 – Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019 – including the Notification Requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 – the Sex Offender Register



4 – Stalking Protection Act 2019 and the Stalkers Register – brought into force in January 2020



5 – Offensive Weapons Act 2019 and ‘knife Crime Prevention Orders’ – currently being piloted in the London Courts



6 – An ‘insight’ into the new Sentencing Act which may receive Royal Assent on 1st October 2020 – an insight only because it has 420 Sections and 29 Schedules – have you read it yet??



7 – Theft by way of low-value shoplifting – R v Harvey [2020] EWCA Crim 354 and R v Burrows [2019] EWCA Crim 889



8 – A Legal Quiz – 25 Q’s covering your role as a Court Duty Solicitor in 2020 with 3 multiple-choice answers (or guesses, should you prefer)



9 – The effect of COVID - 19 – R v Manning [2020] EWCA Crim 592 – see also Chelsea football Club Limited and Gary Nicholls and AP [2020] EWHC 827 (QB)



10 – The Victim Surcharge – Amendments made on the 14th April 2020 – Statutory Instrument 2020 No.310



11 – Failing to disclose your PIN – R v Jeffrey Spencer [2019] EWCA Crim 2240



12 – Re-openings and Statutory Declarations



13 – The important points from your Contract concerning your role as Duty Solicitor e.g. the clients who are covered and the clients who are not covered – Sections 6 and 10 of the 2017 Standard Crime Contract Specification document



14 – The important difference between ‘advocacy assistance’ and ‘advice and assistance’



15 – Advising in the area of alcohol and drugs (driving)



16 – Dealing with clients ‘remotely’



17 – Being Court-Appointed during your period as the Court Duty Solicitor



18 – Dealing with clients who have informed you that they will have their own solicitor at trial – what you should and should not do regarding the PET form



19 – Dealing with children and young people in the Adult Court



20 – The things that ‘crop-up’ when you are the Duty Solicitor at Court on a non-business day e.g. Saturdays

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