Recorded Webinar: NSW Criminal Lawyers Professional Skills: Drafting District Court Sentencing Submissions

Sentencing submission is an extremely important part of criminal practice. Understanding the practicalities of the submission process is the subject of this session, including:

• Preparing a written outline of submissions

• Dealing with aggravating features – don’t hide problems away

• Ensuring the prosecutor has nothing to say – some practical tips

• Care required in what you are seeking – not too much nor too little

• What to put in your submission – the importance of sequential order

• Some key areas to focus on:

  • record and special circumstances

  • subjective features

  • assistance to authorities

  • nature of imprisonment

• Presenting the range of sentences for the offence

• Should defendant give evidence?

• Case study – examples of submissions that work in client’s favor