Criminal Law
This is Piddington’s online CPD library with specialist sessions on criminal law.
If you are looking for other online CPD sessions click the following:
Please note:
Some sessions were recorded before 1 April 2023. In accordance with Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act (2022), Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules (2015) and Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Barristers) Rules (2015), the sessions and questions are regularly reviewed for relevance, and changed or deleted where appropriate.
Unless otherwise marked, all of our sessions are considered “interactive”.
O'Dea v Western Australia: The after party
A landmark decision for criminal lawyers, which was in relation to multi-accused offences and clarified the use of sections 7 and 8 in the Criminal Code (WA).
Join her Honour Mara Barone SC (District Court of Western Australia) and Robert Owen (Director of Public Prosecutions) as they consider the decision and explore how this affects cases moving forward and the need to address party liability in trials.
CPD allocation: 1 point in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Guiding clients with FASD and related health issues through the justice system
Magistrate Alana Padmanabham (Children's Court of Western Australia) and Dr Hayley Passmore (Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia) give an overview of what FASD is, the impact it has on clients, how to better communicate with them and maintaining their engagement through legal proceedings.
CPD allocation: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Snapchat, disappearing and encrypted message platforms as evidence
The Hon Justice Sam Vandongen (Court of Appeal) and Elly Sturgeon (Corrs Chambers Westgarth) work through issues relating to disappearing message platforms.
Ms Sturgeon provides an overview of the technology and general terms and conditions of platforms. Justice Vandongen outlines the law relating to the technology and how it can be used as evidence.
CPD allocation: 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Working with and supporting LGBTIQA+ clients
While most legal discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people has been removed, challenges continue to face the community.
In this session, hear from members of the community and lawyers who have supported LGBTIQA+ people with legal issues and through the justice system. This session will primarily consider supporting these clients and navigating the often complex legal issues that face them.
Speakers: Lauren Butterly (Pride WA), Briannen Morrow (Butlers Lawyers and Notaries) and Aidan Ricciardo (UWA Law School)
CPD points: 1 CA1 (Practice Management).
Recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
DNA EVIDENCE - A HOW-TO GUIDE
Sam Vandongen SC and Penny Cooper (PathWest) walk through how to use DNA evidence, what to expect when you receive it and what additional information should be requesting.
Mr Vandongen SC also considers courtroom application of DNA evidence and how to question it.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills); 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
ETHICS AND CRIMINAL LAW WITH SAM VANDONGEN SC
Leading criminal silk, Vandongen SC, discusses the ethical challenges that arise from being a criminal lawyer.
CPD points: 1 point in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020.
BODY WORN CAMERA EVIDENCE
Since their introduction, body worn cameras have become a unique tool of the police.
In this session, consideration will be given to issues including the admissibility of body worn camera footage in court, relevance of the footage in trial, how it can be helpful, admissibility of admissions made to police wearing body worn cameras and other considerations of body worn cameras.
Speakers: Magistrate Genevieve Cleary, Lisa Boston (Francis Burt Chambers), Rebekah Sleeth (Albert Wolff Chambers).
CPD points: 1 point in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
MATTERS BEFORE THE CHILDREN’S COURT
Her Honour Magistrate Wendy Hughes, Simon Freitag SC (as he then was) and prosecutor Clare Cullen share their experiences in the Children’s Court - what works and what doesn’t, engaging the client, telling their story and contextual factors that make an impact.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills) and 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
GATHERING EVIDENCE AND INSTRUCTIONS - INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES, ENGLISH AND THE LAW
Introduced by Gningala Yarran-Mark, the first Indigenous person to be an associate to a superior court judge, Deanne Lightfoot (Aboriginal Interpreting WA), Professor Diana Eades (University of New England) and Melita Medcalf (Legal Aid WA) discuss the use of Indigenous languages in the justice system, how to engage interpreters, taking instructions and cultural issues that arise between lawyers and Indigenous clients.
CPD points: 1 point in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
A VIEW FROM THE DISTRICT COURT
Their Honours Judges Troy Sweeney SC, David MacLean and Mara Barone SC consider what they have learned on the Bench, what they are seeing and how advocates can be more persuasive before them.
With candour and humour, their Honours office insight into what makes a good advocate and what practitioners should be wary of.
CPD points: 0.5 CPD points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.