Life as a Prison Lawyer: Managing Difficult Cases and Distressed Clients

Garden Court North is pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting the ‘Life as a Prison Lawyer: Managing Difficult Cases and Distressed Clients’ workshop alongside the Association of Prison Lawyers (APL) on 4 November at Blackfriars House Auditorium.
This workshop aims to create a space to share experiences and discuss strategies and ideas to support clients and fellow prison lawyers appropriately.
Legally and personally, prison law work has never been more challenging. The prison estate is at full capacity and many clients have significant mental health problems and additional needs that simply cannot be met. Prison lawyers are often the only people clients can contact for support or to express frustrations – but the work is increasingly isolated, with over 90% of hearings online and many practitioners working from home as consultants.
The workshop is facilitated by APL practitioners John Turner, Yasmin Karabasic and Laura Janes KC, alongside sessions by Alexa Thompson and Alexander McColl from Garden Court North’s prison law team.
Among the topics covered are:
- Common issues and concerns for prison lawyers
- Top tips for manging client needs, expectations and demands
- Practical ideas for protecting and supporting yourself and each other
The full workshop will run from 3:30-5pm. Tickets are available here.
Prices are:
£20 each for APL members
£50 for three APL members from one firm
£50 each for non-members
When: 04 Nov 2025
Where: Blackfriars House Auditorium, Parsonage, Manchester, M3 2JA
Start time: 15:30
End time: 17:00