New online training tool for lawyers on children's rights

Date: 16th May 2018
Category: Training

A new online training tool has been launched to support lawyers working with children and help them take a child rights-based approach to their work.

The training tool is part of the TALE Project (training activities for legal experts to make justice child friendly). It is funded by the European Commission meaning that all training materials are free and readily accessible online. The project runs across several European countries with a local child rights organisation providing training specific to each country.

In the UK, the training tool was developed by the University of Liverpool. The involvement of the University's European Children's Rights Unit and Liverpool Law Clinic ensured that both academic and practitioners' perspectives are represented. The online tool took two years to develop, including consultation with legal practitioners but, importantly, also speaking to children and young people who had first-hand experience of legal proceedings.

The UK tool is based upon the Council of Europe Guidelines on Child Friendly Justice. It includes six modules, presented through a variety of text, video and example situations:

1. Meeting children and taking their instructions
2. Giving children information and advice
3. Drafting documents
4. Presenting the child's voice in court
5. Follow-up action
6. Strategic litigation and international remedies

Acess the free training tool here.

A free workshop on the TALE Project will be hosted by the University of Liverpool in London on 11th June 2018, details here.