Criminal Law Update 2026 - Live at Your Desk

Introduction

2025 and the first few months of 2026 have been full of significance in terms of legislation, caselaw handed down by the Court of Appeal, the High Court and new Guidelines from the Sentencing Council. For criminal practitioners, staying on top of these changes is crucial, but how do you keep up with it all?

This virtual classroom seminar is designed to help you navigate these important updates. It will walk you through the key legislative changes, important caselaw and the latest Sentencing Council Guidelines that shaped the criminal law landscape in the last year.

Whether you work for the Crown Prosecution Service or are a defence lawyer or legal adviser to Magistrates’ or police station adviser, this live session is tailored to benefit anyone involved in criminal law. It is the perfect way to ensure you stay current, informed and ready to apply the latest developments in your practice.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• Procedural updates - Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Layden
• Hearsay updates and res gestae
• Bad character updates
• Admissions and lies directions
• Conspiracy
• Mental health and fitness to plead
• Modern Slavery updates - including definitions post Webb
• Synopsis of main changes from the Sentencing Act 2026
• New and updated Sentencing Guidelines - including Strangulation or Suffocation; Aggravated vehicle taking; Blackmail, kidnap and false imprisonment; Careless driving
• Impact of Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Act 2025

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.