Policy and Strategic Litigation Case Studies

Read Shauneen Lambe's article in Open Democracy questioning whether the UK breaches the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Shauneen Lambe, founder and director of Just for Kids Law, has written an article questioning whether the UK is acting in the best interests of its children as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires.

'Britain's Children: Breaking with Convention', published on 3rd November on the Open Democracy website, reveals that the UK government has failed to act on the recommendations made three years ago by the UN Committee responsible for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 2008 the Committee recommended that the UK take 'urgent measures' to address a 'general climate of intolerance and negative public attitudes towards children, especially adolescents'. Post-riots it appears that the climate of intolerance and negative public attitude has escalated, with apparent encouragement by the government. Read the full article here.

Unfittness to plead, repsonse to the Law Commissions Consultation Paper

JfK Law is at the cutting edge of working with young people in the criminal justice system who have mental illness and/or learning disabilities. Our methods of working with these vulnerable young people have been described as unique. We zealously litigate on behalf of our clients but we also provide close support throughout all aspects of their lives.

Professor Mackay of De Montfort University estimated that in 2001 there were 76 cases of fitness to plead regarding young people: we litigated around 10% of these cases. We took the leading domestic case TP v West London Youth Court on whether a learning disabled child can effectively participate in his trial even though it was in the youth court.

We used our expertise in this area to repsond to the Law Commission's Consultation Paper No.197 Unfitness to plead. Read our response.

Raising the age of criminal responsibility

In a letter printed in the Times, Just for Kids Law has joined the voices of other charities and practioners to ask for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised. Read more