A review is taking place into the provision of independent criminal advocacy and you are invited to email your views on the issues.

The areas being considered by the review team into criminal advocacy in the courts of England and Wales include the:

• experience, capabilities and skills needed for such services 
• arrangements for training, having regard to the recommendations of the Legal Education and Training Review
• standards needed to maintain and improve the quality of advocacy
• future structure of the profession providing advocacy services

The decision to commission an independent review was announced on 5 September 2013 by the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.

Appointment of Sir Bill Jeffrey

Sir Bill Jeffrey was appointed to conduct the study and he is now carrying out an intensive programme of work. This will inform and shape the findings of the review. 

He is due to publish his final report on the review with recommendations at the end of March 2014.

The Jeffrey Review?s remit does not include consideration of remuneration rates for criminal advocacy or the requirements for public funding.

Meetings with stakeholders

Sir Bill Jeffrey is currently meeting with a broad range of key stakeholders.

These include the legal professional regulators, the judiciary and representative bodies of the respective legal professions involved in the delivery of advocacy services.

The idea is to hear about their experiences and the challenges and issues facing the profession in this area as well their thoughts and ideas for the future.

A reference group with representatives from the professions and the judiciary has also been established to inform the work of the review. 

Court visits

As part of this work, Sir Bill will also be visiting Crown and magistrates? courts ? both within and outside London. 

Practitioners who would like to contribute to the Jeffrey Review are welcome to email us their comments by the end of December 2013 at ? see below.

Further information

Criminaladvocacyreview@justice.gsi.gov.uk ? to email comments for the review team