Supporting Vulnerable Court Users

Tim Kiely reflects on the importance of supporting vulnerable court users, highlighting that effective advocacy requires far more than legal knowledge alone.

Writing for Solicitors Journal, he emphasises that practitioners must bring patience, adaptability and a genuinely human approach to ensure fairness and meaningful participation in proceedings, particularly where individuals may struggle to engage with the legal process. He comments that “everyone who comes before the court is a person deserving of basic respect, fair treatment and justice”.

Read article here

Tim will be sharing practical strategies for case preparation and trial management of Vulnerable Witnesses and Defendants for a Seminar with the educational provider MBL, available from 7th October 2026. Among other things, he will discuss ‘special measures and preparation: questions to ask’ and the requirements of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (especially Section 36). Register here

Tim manages a busy Crime practice and is instructed in a variety of criminal matters including Serious Violence, Drugs Offences and cases involving domestic violence.