Youth Justice Voices was commissioned to lead on participation and engagement for Clan Childlaw's study on Legal Support for children and young people in conflict with the law. The study and its findings make for important reading.

Young people from Youth Just Us, Inside Out and STARR Secure shared their experiences of the legal support they received whilst in conflict with the law. The findings revealed a significant gap in what is required and the report concludes with some recommended courses of action for the legal system to take to ensure everyone gets the support they need in ways that are meaningful and accessible.

Dr Claire Lightowler, author of the study and former director of the Children's and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), said:

“This study highlights how significant and long lasting the implications can be for children and young people in conflict with the law when they do not have access to legal services, or when what is available does not meet their needs. There is a significant gap between what these children and young people want and need from a lawyer, and what they are currently experiencing. In order for the rights of these children to be upheld, that gap needs to be closed.”

Thank you to everyone who took part and shared their views. 

Real full study