Women's Justice: A practitioners' guide to best practice - 11th July 2024

The Criminal Appeals Lawyers Association (CALA) is pleased to announce that we will be hosting our second in person seminar focusing on women’s justice in the context of domestic homicide at Garden Court Chambers on 11 July 2024.

This second event in the series will be focused on how practitioners can best represent women in domestic homicide cases, both at first instance and on appeal. CALA is delighted to host a specialist panel of three leading women across three disciplines who are experienced in this area. The seminar will provide delegates with an insight into current legal practice affecting women defendants in domestic homicide cases and provide an opportunity for discussion. We will also hear from Professor Penney Lewis who is leading on the Law Commission's work on domestic homicide.

Emma Torr, Barrister and Co-Director at APPEAL will chair our second seminar on 11 July 2024 and introduce our 4 speakers:

• Paramjit Ahluwalia, Barrister at 1 Pump Court, specialises in high profile criminal appeals and trial work and is experienced in complex and sensitive cases often involving vulnerable defendants. She is a contributing author to “Women Who Kill, Criminal Law and Domestic Abuse” and her published article on reforms relating to Domestic Abuse law has been referenced in the House of Lords. Paramjit will provide delegates with an insight into current legal practice affecting women defendants in domestic homicide cases.

• Dr Georgina Clifford BSc DClinPsy PhD, Specialist Clinical and Research Psychologist and Director of London Trauma Specialists, will talk about her work and expert psychological evidence in domestic homicide cases.

• Dr Catherine Durkin, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for the Women's Service Line, Health & Justice Directorate at Central & Northwest London Foundation Trust will talk about expert psychiatric evidence in domestic homicide cases, and specifically in relation to the complexity of presentations clinically.

• Prof. Penney Lewis, Law Commissioner for Criminal Law on 1 January 2020, will talk about the Commission's current work reviewing defences in cases of domestic homicide.

The talks will be followed by questions and networking drinks.