Legal Aid NSW Criminal Law Division

This episode on the topic of bail is presented by Rose Khalilizadeh, Barrister at Forbes Chambers. Rose provides an overview of bail to assist with preparing an application on behalf of an accused. Rose breaks down the episode into 3 parts; 1. The basics of a bail application. 2. Recent developments in case law relating to bail. 3. Practical tips.

Dan Howard SC offers some practical insights into the ‘art of advocacy’ derived from his varied experiences as an advocate and advocacy teacher. Topics discussed include preparation and planning, organising your material, managing your resources and yourself, presenting your case in chief, dealing with expert evidence, and cross-examination. The emphasis of this seminar is on ‘being an advocate’ and the ‘technique’ of advocacy.

Sally McAtee and Aideen McGarrigle from our In-House Counsel Unit look at the particular ethical issues that arise for our lawyers in the context of provding advice, minor assistance, duty and outreach services. This session will assist you to identify ethical issues within the Legal Aid NSW environment, understand where to look for resources and assistance and help you to resolve ethical isues that arise in your practice.

As Director of Independent Forensic Services, Helen Roebuck is exposed to flaws in DNA evidence regularly. In this presentation Helen discusses the basics of DNA profiling, recent technical and procedural changes relating to the handling of Forensic Biology and DNA evidence, and gives an insight into what questions you should be asking when DNA evidence is relied upon in your case.

Presented by Helen Shaw, Senior Solicitor in the Indictable Section at Central Sydney Office of Legal Aid, this episode discusses Special Hearings in the District and Supreme Courts and follows Helen's previous episode on Fitness Issues & Fitness Hearings in the District & Supreme Courts.

This episode, presented by Tom Quilter Public Defender, is about sentencing in drug supply cases and how the law has been affected by a recent 2017 CCA decsion of Parente, in which Tom was Junior Counsel.

Rob Hoyles and Daniel Covington from the 'Early Appropriate Guilty Plea Justice Reform Team' at Legal Aid, discuss the practicalities of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Committals and Guilty Pleas) Bill 2017.

Jeremy Styles, Senior Solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Servce NSW/ACT discusses Lewis v Sergeant Rily [2017] NSWCA 272 where the Court of Appeal (Basten JA, White JA and Fagan JA in separate judgments) found that the District Court had a power to hear a rehearing appeal from a Forensic Procedure Order made by the Local Court.

This session is presented by Helen Shaw and focuses on issues that give rise to a question about a client's fitness. We look at the Presser Criteria, the procedures for fitness hearings, and the legislation that governs the procedures.