Criminal Defence
London Heavyweight
7CPD Essential Update
7 CPD
All Essential Updates
£105
Friday, October 10, 2025
9:00am Registration – 4:30pm Finish
Mary Ward Conference Centre, Tavistock Place,
London WC1H 9SN
Dear Friends & Colleagues, on the final day of CPD Week at the well-appointed Mary Ward Conference Centre, we bring together an all-star line-up of leading London criminal defence practitioners for our hugely popular annual essential update.
This full-day, 7-CPD course is packed with substantive law and takes delegates from case inception through to annual review, with essential insights at every stage.
Created by Criminal Lawyers, for Criminal Lawyers
This course is created by London’s key criminal lawyers, for criminal lawyers across the profession. By lawyers, for lawyers, we highlight the best in the business from start to finish, bringing together twelve Formula One individuals and industry leaders, each presenting an update in their specialist area.
Collectively, we are Law Friends.
A Full Day of Essential Criminal Law Updates
We begin where every case begins: at the police station, with an update on the latest custody-suite challenges and practical solutions.
Hosted by a leading London Chambers, the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court sessions will cover the Sentencing Act 2026, the Police Act 2026, and other essential developments.
Before lunch, partners from HJA will lead sessions on Youth Court and Protest Law.
Our established Law Friends guest speakers will also provide key updates on forensics, dangerous dogs, bad character and hearsay, fraud, maximising legal aid billing, contempt of court and the increasingly critical area of SRA ethics.
The full course programme, including topics and speakers, will be published soon.
Kindness Ambassadors and Post-Conference Social
We will hear from our Kindness Ambassadors, who will be calling for new ambassadors from across the industry, before post-conference drinks and a social nearby.
This is your chance to unwind and connect with our fabulous team and colleagues from across the profession.
Fast-Paced, Thorough and Packed with Substance
Our conferences are buzzing. Expect an upbeat, fast-paced and thorough deep dive into Criminal Law.
Check out our reviews below and book early at a new reduced rate of just £75.
Tickets include all-day tea, coffee and biscuits, together with a certificated delegate pack and comprehensive lecture notes.
The Law Friends production team will also be filming the event.
If you enjoyed our previous conference, please tell your friends!
With kindest regards,
Law Friends
| Time | Seminar | Speaker | Organisation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.00 | Coffee | |||
| 9.30 | Welcome | Steve Kennedy - Solicitor – Law Friends Society |  |
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| 9.40 | Current Problems in the Police Station & PACE Updates | Steve Kennedy – Law Friends Society; Ghislaine Sandoval - Solicitor – Hodge Jones & Allen |  |
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| 10.10 | Magistrates and Crown Court Update | Ghislaine Sandoval – Hodge Jones & Allen | |
|
| 11.00 | Coffee | |||
| 11.25 | Without a Voice – Court Strategy in Protest Cases | Laura O’Brien – Partner - Hodge Jones & Allen |  |
|
| 12.00 | Youth Justice Update | Caroline Liggins – Partner - Hodge Jones & Allen |  |
|
| 12.30 | Lunch | |||
| 1.30 | Forensics – Something from nothing | Ross Donnelly – Forensic Scientist - Keith Borer Consultants |  |
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| 2.00 | Costs Update (maximising revenue) | Colin Wells – Barrister - 25 Bedford Row |  |
 |
| 2.30 | From Courtroom Trauma to Compassion – Welcome to Wellness | Casey Jenkins – MK Law / LCCSA |  |
 |
| 2.55 | Research on Kindness in the Legal Profession | Valerie Charbit – Red Lion Chambers; Nicola Shannon KC – Furnival Chambers |
|
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| 3.20 | Coffee | |||
| 3.35 | Lessons from the Post Office scandal for criminal lawyers | Ms Flora Page KC – 23 Essex Street |  |
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| 4.10 | The Leveson Review — Jury Trials Under Threat and Other Developments | Greg Foxsmith – Solicitor at Kingsley Napley |  |
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| 4.30 | Course code and close | Steve Kennedy – Law Friends Society | |
|
Course Features
- Full practice-focused law updates for all practitioners across the jurisdiction
- Suitable for paralegals, trainees, solicitors, pupils, and barristers
- 7 CPD courses covering all essential updates, new laws, practice, and procedure
- All practice-focused seminars presented by hand-picked Law Friends ambassadors
- Big room, large-screen HD visuals
- Professional audio-visual film crew working to broadcast quality
- Comfortable seating at cabaret-style tables
- Summaries, strategies, toolkits, and skills bringing you up to date on best practice
- Q&A and post-seminar discussion with speakers available after all seminars
- Post-conference drinks – come and relax with your colleagues after the event
- Easily accessible state-of-the-art Central London location
- Quick check-in and early get-out
- Full venue air-conditioning
- All-day tea, coffee, and biscuits included
- Delegate pack included
Delegate Reviews from Our Conferences Last Year
“Extremely positive vibe, which was refreshing. Wonderfully inspirational female speakers. A joyous day and well worth the trip from sunny Suffolk.”
Shelley Drew, Partner, SGR Solicitors
“Really impressive speakers. We are so lucky to have such empowering speakers in our profession.”
Sue Threadkell, SGR Solicitors – 100% score
“I love coming to this conference. It is the only one that bolsters a true sense of us ‘being in it together’.”
Alice Dodd, Solicitor, Lewis Nedas – 100% score
“Great course. Always makes me feel like I don’t know nearly enough. Definitely back next year.”
Rebecca Keogh, Devas Keogh James – 100% score
“Will definitely attend next year. I found it super useful and informative. I feel more confident and prepared for police stations and court.”
Sinead Vaughan, Commons Legal – 100% score
“Excellent conference, well presented and with good supporting material.”
Louise James, Solicitor, Duncan Lewis – 100% score