Mel Stooks

Youth defence solicitor, head of Youth Team at GT Stewart Solicitors. Fighting for children's rights.

[Youth Justice Legal Centre @YJLCUK]

YJLC training co-delivered with young people gives pupil barristers at Garden Court Chambers an opportunity to explain the law and process to children and to get their direct feedback. Communicating with children effectively is an essential part of providing children with adequate legal advice. Training delivered by @MelStooks @GTStewartSols @YPATweet and Katya Moran @YJLCUK

[Kate Aubrey-Johnson @mediate_kate]

Tonight we concluded our expert led training with @MelStooks and Aika Stephenson!

Thank you to all our newly trained child specialist police stn lawyers!!!

Watch this space…

@YJLCUK
@YPATweet
@lccsa
@JusticeChildUK
@Justforkidslaw
@MOPACLdn
@metpoliceuk

#childfirst

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

After months of meetings and a lot of hard work it all feels real now! It's very exciting to be at the first training session for lawyers for the police station pilot scheme. The training for lawyers concludes on Monday and then the custody sergeants are next...

[Youth Practioners’ Association @YPATweet]

CHILD FIRST CUSTODY TRAINING & RESEARCH PILOT (CHiRP) is well under way, it’s great to see so many lawyers here listing to this expert-led training on how to best represent children in the police station.

[Youth Practioners’ Association @YPATweet]

🚨 2 DAYS TO GO until this fantastic seminar on Youth Court Funding - Maximising Quality and Income.

SEE BELOW FOR SIGN UP DETAILS & FULL LIST OF SPEAKERS ⬇️

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

Being congratulated by Elizabeth Howe OBE

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

Congratulations to Kristin Sharp from @GTStewartSols for winning Junior Lawyer Award at the Kent Law Society Awards

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

@YJLCUK @Bradford_YJS @walsallyjs Really enjoyed today and the discussions we had. Hope @Bradford_YJS are feeling more empowered to deal with these applications and what to expect of defence solicitors who represent the children affected.

[Youth Justice Legal Centre @YJLCUK]

📚Double day of youth justice service training today. We are in Bradford and Walsall!

We have @MelStooks with @Bradford_YJS training the team on Criminal Behaviour Orders & other Civil Orders affecting children

Over in @walsallyjs Ruth is covering everything the team needs to know about children in the criminal courts from procedure and law to when decisions should be challenged in the interests of the child

[Garden Court Chambers @gardencourtlaw]

@_lesliethomas @Justforkidslaw @mediate_kate ⚡Our second panel discuss the role of specialist lawyers for children - Shauneen Lambe (@ShauneenLambe) (@YJLCUK), Aika Stephenson (@Justforkidslaw), chair: Kate Aubrey-Johnson (@mediate_kate), Elena Papamichael (@ElenaPapamicha3), Dr Laura Janes (@LauraJanes_UK) & @MelStooks.

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

Refuse to allow PAVA Spray on Children in Custody - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/ftewB6S7Tj via @UKChange

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

This is a brilliant and well deserved result. Thank you to Jenni and Ronnie for all of their hard work!

[Red Lion Chambers @RedLionChambers]

Following a 4-week trial at the Old Bailey, Jenni Dempster KC has secured the acquittal of her 19-year- old client, who was found not guilty of murder & an alternative offence of manslaughter. Instructed by @MelStooks @GTStewartSols leading Ronnie Manek: https://t.co/Nkv1Hhgd3s

[Martin Barrow @MartinBarrow]

Britain’s modern bedlam: Teenagers locked up and facing the abyss. Outstanding reporting by @louisetickle @tortoise

https://t.co/9T4a7xtr5i

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

It is incredibly depressing that this research was even needed. The findings and recommendations are obvious to every professional dealing with these children. The current systems need to change asap.

[CoramBAAF @CoramBAAF]

For #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we want to share our article - ‘They shouldn’t have to ask’: Exploring the need for specialist mental health services for #care-experienced & #adopted children & their #families’.

Adoption & Fostering online journal:
https://t.co/lTRGZM7ePf

[Laura Janes @LauraJanes_UK]

Dr Hales: make sure you instruct an expert with expertise in adolescence - ideally for young adults too

Dr Marriott: remember to benchmark your clients by ordinary childhood experiences -don't normalise disadvantage

Puja Nayar: get ALL the info you need, incl from stat services

[Youth Practioners’ Association @YPATweet]

We are so looking forward to hosting this event next Wednesday, it’s a FREE in person seminar on specialist assessments for young people - you’ve still got time to sign up ⬇️ Getting the right assessment at the right time is crucial to avoid injustice! https://t.co/BHAKhIg8rX

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

Excellent article. Sadly the reality is that children have to enter the criminal justice system for any help/support to be available for them or parents. https://t.co/QkXQar4dR6

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

Tomorrow I am raising money for MInd by plodding around the London Landmarks Half Marathon 🐢if you can spare anything it will go to an excellent cause. #JustGiving https://t.co/2ofb75DqEx

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

@robroballen Or they could release the prisoners on IPP being detained long past their tariff.

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

@KrudyMelanie

[Mel Stooks @MelStooks]

So pleased for my colleagues in the Leeds office winning their category at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2022