SMART Criminal Defence recognises the criminal justice system can be a bewildering place for anyone, not least for young people and their carers. We pride ourselves in being truly sympathetic to that fact.

We understand that the youth court is a highly specialised arena. For this reason, we are always fully prepared for our cases, making sure the relevant up-to-date law and procedure is at our fingertips. We are always mindful of the fact that any conviction may severely hinder a young person’s life when they become an adult, which is why we insist on providing a robust defence to every youth with whom we deal, and our first step is meticulously exploring if there is any way of diverting cases away from the criminal justice system.

We will always deal with key issues promptly such as:

• Organising an Appropriate Adult
• Considering any need for an intermediary
• Obtaining third party assessments
• Obtaining references and/or reports
• Liaising with relevant multi-disciplinary agencies