Thu, 18 Oct 2012
No5 Chambers in Birmingham recently played host to twenty delegates from the Chinese Central Government for a three day conference/event organised by The Birmingham Law Society International Committee.
Each of the first two days began at 10:00am and drew to a close around 4:00pm, with full programmes, looking at aspects of UK law. Michael Duck QC of No5 Chambers delivered the Wednesday morning seminar on briefing of legal systems within the UK with reference to recent reforms, especially the criminal laws and prosecution. He was followed in the afternoon by Mark Heywood QC who looked at the relationship between the police, prosecution service and the Court service”.
Thursday morning opened with Michael Burrows QC explaining the different responsibilities of the police, prosecutors and judge in dealing with criminal cases. Following lunch, Ian Bridge delivered training on judges’ assessment criterions in approving the arrestment and custody of suspects/defendants and how judges and courts accept evidence provided by prosecutors and the police.
The Chinese delegation attended a Question and Answer session at Birmingham Crown Court with HHJ Burbidge QC on Friday morning. The delegates then sat in the public gallery from where they were able to watch UK law in action.
Jocelyn Mei, Training Manager of UK China Training, was involved in agreeing the delegation’s schedule while Bernard Shepherd of Blakemores focused on organisational matters and Joe Wilson of St Philips Chambers organised the court visit on Friday morning.
Tony McDaid, No5 Chambers’ Practice Director, comments: “No5 Chambers has strong links with law firms in China and a growing reputation for delivering its expertise on a worldwide stage, including international arbitration.
“We were very pleased to not only be asked by The Birmingham Law Society to host the Chinese delegation over the three days last week but also have our QCs and junior counsel share their wealth of knowledge of criminal law, which was the focus of the three seminars, at the request of UK China Training.”
