Tuesday, 02 December 2008

Barristers and expert witnesses pitted their wits in digital forensics issues in front of a judge at an advocacy workshop at 23 Essex Street last month. The event was the latest in a series of training seminars organised by Detica Forensics in conjunction with the Chambers.

In a simulated court session, Expert Witnesses from Detica Forensics presented evidence from realistic fictionalised forensics reports and were cross-examined by 23 Essex Street barristers before a Circuit Judge, a former Head of the Chambers, who commented on the performances.

Andy Clark, Head of Forensics at Detica, explained: “As technology pervades every aspect of our lives, digital footprints are everywhere. Often the evidence is so incriminating that it doesn’t even reach the courts, but when it does barristers must be fully prepared to cope with its language, complexities and intricacies. For their part, Expert Witnesses must be able to articulate the key evidence so that it can be understood by judges and juries with varying levels of IT knowledge. This simulation exercise gave both parties the chance to test and evaluate their skills.”

“As a Chambers we are eager to keep pace with the changing skill sets required of barristers in a rapidly changing world,” explained John Stanford , Professional Development Co-ordinator at 23 Essex Street. “The digital forensics seminar series is part of our Continuing Professional Development programme that has proved useful and popular amongst our barristers. This latest workshop provided a very real test for all sides and as a simulation exercise, rather than a lecture, provided us with a good opportunity to develop our skills.”

About 23 Essex Street

23 Essex Street is primarily a criminal set whose members practise in all areas of criminal law, both defending and prosecuting, across London and the South Eastern Circuit. Silks practise throughout the country. 23 Essex Street has a particular reputation in the core area of criminal work, in cases concerning serious crime, such as murder and sexual offences and other cases involving vulnerable witnesses; white-collar crime, such as criminal fraud and money-laundering offences; and customs and revenue offences. Chambers has acquired a considerable reputation in both defending and prosecuting in criminal proceedings and its members have been involved in many of the celebrated and high-profile cases over the last 50 years.

The conduct of disciplinary and regulatory proceedings is undertaken by a highly regarded team of skilled advocates, both prosecuting and defending, in the fields of Medical Health Care Regulatory and Disciplinary Proceedings, Police disciplinary proceedings and city regulatory work.

Members have particular expertise in the specialist areas of courts martial work, civil actions arising from criminal investigations, and major public inquiries

In all these practice areas, 23 Essex Street can field barristers highly ranked in the leading legal directories, from leading silks to senior juniors in addition to juniors at all call levels, and can assemble teams to undertake the conduct of complex cases.