This is the first session of CWJ’s new training programme for criminal defence and prison lawyers – both barristers and solicitors - representing victims of domestic abuse who are accused of offending.

In this session, a survivor will describe her own experience of domestic abuse and criminalisation. Jacqui Kilburn and Bianca Petkova of Women's Aid will explain the key characteristics of domestic abuse and coercive control, the importance of using a trauma-informed, culturally competent approach and the basic elements of such an approach. Harriet Wistrich, Solicitor and Director at Centre for Women's Justice, will draw on her own experience to identify the key features of the lawyer’s role in achieving a just outcome. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Our trainers

Harriet Wistrich, Solicitor & Director, Centre for Women’s Justice

Harriet is the founder and director of the Centre for Women’s Justice and a solicitor of 25 years’ experience who worked for many years with renowned civil liberties firm, Birnberg Peirce Ltd. She is the winner of the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award 2014, Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018 for public law and Law Society Gazette personality of the year 2019. She has acted in many high profile cases concerning violence against women and on behalf of women appealing murder convictions for killing abusive partners, most recently Sally Challen and Farieissia Martin.

Jacqui Kilburn, National Training Centre Manager, Women’s Aid

Jacqui manages the National Training Centre at Women’s Aid. She has been instrumental in the development of a national accredited qualification for those professionals whose work brings them into contact with domestic and sexual violence. Jacqui also worked with the Home Office and Skills for Justice in their work towards developing the national occupational standards for the domestic and sexual violence sector.