Sarah Wilson
Barrister| Youth Court & Serious Crime Specialist

Sarah Wilson is an experienced criminal defence solicitor and advocate with particular expertise in representing children and vulnerable young people within the criminal justice system.
Sarah qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and as a Duty Solicitor in 2011, before transferring to the Bar in 2012. She has extensive advocacy experience and has conducted numerous Crown Court trials, including successfully defending clients facing serious allegations involving drugs and violence.

Sarah is a dedicated and passionate litigator and advocate who is committed to ensuring that every client is properly represented and understood, particularly those who may find the criminal justice system difficult to navigate.

Youth Court & Vulnerable Young People
A significant part of Sarah's practice involves representing children and young people before the Youth Court. She has particular expertise in representing vulnerable young people with additional needs, including ADHD and autism, and understands the importance of ensuring that a child's individual communication, emotional and developmental needs are properly recognised throughout criminal proceedings.

Sarah also has extensive experience representing young people who are themselves victims of criminal exploitation and modern slavery, including cases where questions arise as to whether a young person's offending has occurred in the context of exploitation by others.

Her experience enables her to look beyond the allegation itself and consider the wider circumstances surrounding a young person, including vulnerability, exploitation, safeguarding and the support that may be required.

Crown Court & Serious Crime
Alongside her specialist Youth Court practice, Sarah has substantial experience of serious criminal litigation and advocacy. She has conducted numerous Crown Court trials and has successfully defended clients charged with serious drugs and violent offences. Her background as both a solicitor and advocate gives her a detailed understanding of cases from initial preparation and case strategy through to advocacy at trial.

Streetwise Law & Community Work
Sarah has a strong commitment to working with young people outside the courtroom.
She is the founder of Streetwise Law (https://streetwiselaw.com), an initiative which delivers legal education workshops to schools, pupil referral units and youth clubs throughout London. The workshops are designed to help young people better understand the law, their rights and the potential consequences of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

Sarah also works with Youth Justice Services, delivering training directly to young people and using her experience as a criminal defence practitioner to make the law accessible and relevant to those most likely to come into contact with it.

Her combination of criminal defence experience, specialist knowledge of the Youth Court and direct community work gives Sarah a particularly strong understanding of the challenges facing children and vulnerable young people within the criminal justice system.