What’s Changing? How will recent youth justice reforms impact your ability to defend young clients? Back by popular demand, now in its second season, the 2nd Annual Youth Justice Forum explores major legal shifts, including the removal of detention as a last resort, tougher sentencing for specific youth offences, a stricter presumption against bail, and new challenges in handling prejudicial evidence like social media and prior misconduct.
It’s a jam-packed, practical webinar - just 3 hours - designed to fit into your busy schedule while keeping you up to date on the latest changes.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
1 unit in Substantive Law
2 units in Professional Skills
This program is based on QLD legislation
2.00pm to 3.00pm What’s Changing?
- Sentencing young offenders post-reform
- Strategies for mitigating long-term consequences?
- The removal of detention as a “last resort”
- New penalties for specified youth offences
- How to advocate effectively in the new sentencing framework?
Presented by Carolyn Juratowitch, Principal Lawyer, Hub Community Legal
Professional Skills
3.00pm to 4.00pm Bail Issues, Strategies and Complexities
- What do trial lawyers need to know?
- Dealing with police, courts, mental health professionals and families
- Strategies when parental support is lacking
- The presumption against bail
- The complexities of representing clients with cognitive impairments or mental health issues
Presented by Carmen De Marco, Barrister, Higgins Chambers
4.00pm to 4.15pm Break
Professional Skills
4.15pm to 5.15pm Best Practices for Addressing Prejudicial Evidence
- Prior criminal history or past misconduct
- Social media posts and digital footprints
- Victim impact statements used beyond their intended scope
- Gang affiliation or association with criminal networks
- Impact of media coverage and public opinion on high-profile youth cases
- Pre-trial motions to suppress unfairly prejudicial evidence:
- Challenging hearsay and tendency/coincidence evidence under the Evidence Act 1977 (Qld)
- Seeking non-publication orders where necessary
- Effective cross-examination techniques to undermine unreliable testimony
- Reframing alternative narratives to shift judicial focus
- Seeking suppression orders and closed court arrangements
Presented by Mitch Rawlings, Barrister, Holmes Chambers
Chair:
Kerala Drew, Barrister, Holmes Chambers, Vice President of the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland
Presenters
Kerala Drew, Barrister, Holmes Chambers
Kerala commenced at the private bar having practised as a solicitor in criminal, family, domestic violence and child protection law. Kerala accepts briefs in all stages of criminal and family law matters, and across all jurisdictions. Kerala moved to Australia having achieved a First Class Honours Degree from Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining the private bar, Kerala began her legal career at a busy private defence firm in Redcliffe, appearing regularly as a duty lawyer, and also instructing Counsel in the Children’s Court of Queensland, and District, and Supreme Courts. Kerala is currently the Vice President of the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland, and is active in promoting diversity throughout the profession. Kerala prides herself on her warm, down to earth nature, and her ability to achieve the very best outcomes for her clients.
Carmen De Marco, Barrister, Higgins Chambers
Carmen practises predominately in criminal, regulatory, and family matters. Before commencing at the private Bar, Carmen practised for eight years as a Federal Prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Her current practice largely involves representing criminal defendants (adults and children) in respect of a range of State and Commonwealth offences including drug offending, violence, sexual assault, and property offences. Carmen routinely conducts matters on behalf of State and Federal government agencies concerning immigration, environmental matters, and criminal prosecutions. She also regularly represents parties involved in parenting and property disputes following separation.
Carolyn Juratowitch, Principal Lawyer, Hub Community Legal
Mitch Rawlings, Barrister, Holmes Chambers
Mitch was called to the bar after serving as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Since then, he has represented employers, government agencies and individuals in employment, discrimination, disciplinary and WHS proceedings. Mitch has developed a practice in WHS defendant proceedings, representing businesses in the meat processing, amusement and construction industries on a regular basis. As well as advocacy in the Federal Courts, Mitch regularly appears the Commonwealth and State employment tribunals, developing an appellate practice in these jurisdictions. He also teaches at the Queensland University of Technology in evidence and administrative law.
