From holistically exploring each client's specific needs in order to identify any necessary support, to making thoughtful adjustments to meeting rooms, and working alongside intermediaries, Siobhan brings a wealth of experience to the discussion, and lots of practical suggestions for legal professionals working with clients who have communication difficulties (including how to arrange intermediary assistance for standalone conferences). 

• If you would like to learn more about Siobhan's client care system (nominated in the Innovation category at this year's Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards), please contact enquiries@msbsolicitors.co.uk.
• You can learn more about all aspects of working with a client who has communication needs via The Access Brief (Communicourt's free library of information and bite-sized guides, developed for legal professionals). 
• To find out more about Communicourt's CPD sessions for legal firms, visit www.communicourt.co.uk/freecpd 

In this episode, intermediaries, Holly & Rory, listen to Chris' perspective and reflect on the issues he raises. The discussion considers preparation for attending legal proceedings, measures which can be implemented to support court users for whom unfamiliar locations and processes pose particular barriers, the impact of sensory sensitivities in a court setting, adjustments for sensory sensitivities, and the difficulty of hearing proceedings clearly. 

You can watch Chris' clip in full (and find lots of free resources for legal professionals working with a client with a communication difference or difficulty) via The Access Brief.

Courtroom videos:

• HMCTS: "Crown Court - Preparing to come to court"
• University of Derby: "The Magistrate's Court"
• Ministry of Justice: "Preparing for Your First Hearing at Family Court"

This opening speech explores the justice system’s ongoing journey towards improved accessibility for vulnerable people. Listen in as Judge Clark shares both his personal experiences and his considerable experience in the courtroom, to unpack why he believes steady evolution, not rapid upheaval, is needed to continually improve access to justice.

You can watch a video recording of Judge Clark's speech from the Access to Justice 2023 conference, as well presentations delivered by HHJ Neil Clark, Dr Katie Maras, Andi Brierley and Edmore Masendeke on Communicourt's library of resources for legal professionals, The Access Brief. 

Speaking at Communicourt's Access to Justice Conference 2023, Kama considers how we can step outside of the special measures set out in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (1999), in order to support the participation of vulnerable court users, including children and people affected by trauma.

One of the six Senior Trainers who helped develop the National Training for Vulnerable Witnesses, Kama’s practice with young defendants, particularly, has been described by the Court of Appeal as ‘a model’. She is also the Bar Representative with the Ministry of Justice for the Section 28 scheme to pre-record evidence. Among her many other roles, Kama sits part-time as a Judge in the Crown and Family Courts.  In her presentation, Kama strongly recommends the Inns of Court College of Advocacy e-learning programmes, which include programmes on 'Advocacy and the Vulnerable' in criminal and family proceedings, as well advocacy for children in contact with the law.  You can watch a video recording of Kama's speech from the Access to Justice 2023 conference, as well presentations delivered by HHJ Neil Clark, Dr Katie Maras, Andi Brierley and Edmore Masendeke on Communicourt's library of resources for legal professionals: The Access Brief. 

Sarah is a senior speech & language therapist with specialist post-graduate training in communication disorders post traumatic brain injury and acquired swallowing disorders. Sarah has worked across a range of hospital and community settings and now works part-time in the NHS, and recently completed a Masters in Research (Communication Disorders). Sarah also works as an expert witness for medico-legal cases, via Somek & Associates, providing specialist speech & language therapy assessment and reports required for court proceedings.  Resources mentioned in episode: - Headway: Brain injury charity providing information, helplines and support groups.  - Arbor Neurorehabilitation Services: Sarah's interdisciplinary organisation, which provides private, client-centred therapy for adults with a brain injury.

Additional resources mentioned in podcast

• SMIRA Facebook group
• SMIRA website
• Selective Mutism Resource Manual
• Waiting list for Susannah's general training
• Help With Talking website

In the fifth episode of our Hidden Disabilities series, Becky talks to Communicourt intermediary, Maija Siren, about this underdiagnosed language disorder, unpacking DLD, alongside some of its potential impacts for court users. 

As RADLD Editor, Becky produced many of the films, and in 2018 RADLD won a Charity Film Award for DLD 1-2-3. In 2021, Becky received a 'Giving Voice Award' and became a 'Fellow' of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the profession. Becky's research and online publications can be downloaded here.

Henry Sheldon (ADHD UK) chaired a conversation with William Scrimshire (Communicourt), Michelle White (Teesside University) and Allison Woodhead (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust), exploring topics including underdiagnosis of the condition among individuals in the criminal justice system, police questioning of individuals with ADHD and the barriers to participation a defendant with ADHD may face at court.

If you would like to contact David, please note that the email address provided in this episode has now changed. He can now be contacted at: David.ward@reading.ac.uk

For more information about stammering & legal proceedings, download our free guide from The Access Brief and explore some of the excellent work undertaken by STAMMA, including their guidance for judges.

The Right to a Fair Trial is Article 6 of the Human Rights Act, however do we know how to use that right if we need it? Sanchita talks to us about the protection the right offers for defendants and respondents with communication difficulties in criminal and family courts.

Her current work, funded by the ESRC, focuses on how autistic adults think and communicate differently, and what adaptations service providers can make to accommodate these differences.

Dr Maras is particularly interested in how autistic people fare when they are interviewed by the police as a witness or as a suspect of an alleged offence. We spoke to her about how communication needs can be a barrier to fair access to justice during initial police investigations, and when making statements.

Ms Forsyth has extensive experience of supporting defendants with mental health difficulties.

She has spoken at the Supreme Court about the role of intermediaries in England and Wales.

Ms Reed has worked at the family bar for more than 15 years, and is committed to helping people to understand what happens in Family Court. She set up her own Pink Tape blog and was also a founder of The Transparency Project.

We spoke to her about how much support there is for respondents with communication needs in the Family Court.

Christian and Jacqui are both passionate about their roles, there is a high prevalence of people with speech, language and communication needs in UK prisons.

We spoke to them about how they support prisoners with communication needs, and what more needs to be done to ensure there is fair access to justice.