Youth defence solicitor, head of Youth Team at GT Stewart Solicitors. Fighting for children's rights.

Joined October 2017
3 Photos and videos
Mel Stooks retweeted
YJLC training co-delivered with young people gives pupil barristers at Garden Court Chambers an opportunity to explain the law and process to children and to get their direct feedback. Communicating with children effectively is an essential part of providing children with adequate legal advice. Training delivered by @MelStooks @GTStewartSols @YPATweet and Katya Moran @YJLCUK
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Mel Stooks retweeted
Tonight we concluded our expert led training with @MelStooks and Aika Stephenson! Thank you to all our newly trained child specialist police stn lawyers!!! Watch this space… @YJLCUK @YPATweet @lccsa @JusticeChildUK @Justforkidslaw @MOPACLdn @metpoliceuk #childfirst
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14 Sep 2024
After months of meetings and a lot of hard work it all feels real now! It's very exciting to be at the first training session for lawyers for the police station pilot scheme. The training for lawyers concludes on Monday and then the custody sergeants are next...
CHILD FIRST CUSTODY TRAINING & RESEARCH PILOT (CHiRP) is well under way, it’s great to see so many lawyers here listing to this expert-led training on how to best represent children in the police station.
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Mel Stooks retweeted
🚨 2 DAYS TO GO until this fantastic seminar on Youth Court Funding - Maximising Quality and Income. SEE BELOW FOR SIGN UP DETAILS & FULL LIST OF SPEAKERS ⬇️
🚨 Bookings are now open for our online seminar on Youth Court Funding - Maximising Quality and Income. When:16 May 2024, 18:00 Where: Online Places are limited, so please book while they last! eventbrite.co.uk/e/youth-cou…
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10 May 2024
Congratulations to Kristin Sharp from @GTStewartSols for winning Junior Lawyer Award at the Kent Law Society Awards
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10 May 2024
Being congratulated by Elizabeth Howe OBE
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Mel Stooks retweeted
📚Double day of youth justice service training today. We are in Bradford and Walsall! We have @MelStooks with @Bradford_YJS training the team on Criminal Behaviour Orders & other Civil Orders affecting children Over in @walsallyjs Ruth is covering everything the team needs to know about children in the criminal courts from procedure and law to when decisions should be challenged in the interests of the child
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Mel Stooks retweeted
⚡Our second panel discuss the role of specialist lawyers for children - Shauneen Lambe (@ShauneenLambe) (@YJLCUK), Aika Stephenson (@Justforkidslaw), chair: Kate Aubrey-Johnson (@mediate_kate), Elena Papamichael (@ElenaPapamicha3), Dr Laura Janes (@LauraJanes_UK) & @MelStooks.
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Refuse to allow PAVA Spray on Children in Custody - Sign the Petition! chng.it/kRxtJY6b via @UKChange
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This is a brilliant and well deserved result. Thank you to Jenni and Ronnie for all of their hard work!
Following a 4-week trial at the Old Bailey, Jenni Dempster KC has secured the acquittal of her 19-year- old client, who was found not guilty of murder & an alternative offence of manslaughter. Instructed by @MelStooks @GTStewartSols leading Ronnie Manek: redlionchambers.co.uk/jenni-…
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Mel Stooks retweeted
Britain’s modern bedlam: Teenagers locked up and facing the abyss. Outstanding reporting by @louisetickle @tortoise tortoisemedia.com/2023/05/17…

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16 May 2023
It is incredibly depressing that this research was even needed. The findings and recommendations are obvious to every professional dealing with these children. The current systems need to change asap.
16 May 2023
For #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we want to share our article - ‘They shouldn’t have to ask’: Exploring the need for specialist mental health services for #care-experienced & #adopted children & their #families’. Adoption & Fostering online journal: ow.ly/pyPv50OnQsg
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Mel Stooks retweeted
Dr Hales: make sure you instruct an expert with expertise in adolescence - ideally for young adults too Dr Marriott: remember to benchmark your clients by ordinary childhood experiences -don't normalise disadvantage Puja Nayar: get ALL the info you need, incl from stat services
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Mel Stooks retweeted
We are so looking forward to hosting this event next Wednesday, it’s a FREE in person seminar on specialist assessments for young people - you’ve still got time to sign up ⬇️ Getting the right assessment at the right time is crucial to avoid injustice! eventbrite.co.uk/e/specialis…
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Tomorrow I am raising money for MInd by plodding around the London Landmarks Half Marathon 🐢if you can spare anything it will go to an excellent cause. #JustGiving justgiving.com/page/mel-stoo…
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So pleased for my colleagues in the Leeds office winning their category at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2022
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Mel Stooks retweeted
Join us on the 23/11/22 for ‘Youth Justice SOS: everything you need to know about representing children in the youth justice system today.’ This short evening course will be followed by festive drinks. Book your place now! eventbrite.co.uk/e/youth-pra…
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Mel Stooks retweeted
🚨🚨🚨 TONIGHT 🚨🚨🚨 Come and join Chambers’ @emma_heath1, @MelStooks of @GTStewartSols & a senior @CPSUK representative discuss the prosecution of children in care @9BRChambers - tonight at 6pm Register @eventbrite here 👇 eventbrite.co.uk/e/prosecuti…
NOT LONG TO GO! 17th August 2022 @ 6pm *in person** discussion with the YPA and the Crown Prosecution Service. If you have not got your ticket, and you don't want to miss out please DM us. We are sure we can fit you in!
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