Recent changes in Legal Aid at the police station level mean that if a detainee initially requests the Duty or local solicitor, it is very difficult to transfer Legal Aid to this specialist firm while the suspect continues in police detention. It is therefore important for our clients to nominate us as their solicitors to the booking-in officer on arrival in custody. However, we can always be asked to privately represent any suspect in England & Wales; subject to cleared funds. This is a 24 hour service and we believe it is a fundamental right for someone facing allegations to have their own solicitor of choice in the Police Station.
Legal Aid does not normally allow for the attendance by a lawyer at the police station on relatively minor matters. All that happens is that the suspect may receive telephonic advice from an appointed CDS agent. We disagree with this relatively recent restriction of individual choice of lawyer on Legal Aid. We believe clients should have unhindered access to our own lawyers.
Anyone can instruct us on a private basis for independent emergency advice and assistance. This is irrespective of the level of allegation and applies all over England & Wales.
Please also note that we do not use ex-police officers as our police station representatives.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Crown Court Trials - Success!
We have just had successful outcomes as follows:
Manchester Crown Court:
We were defending a young lady in a big drugs case. She was one of seven defendants and we represented her right from middle-of-the night interrogations at the police station all the way to her Crown Court jury trial. There was a considerable amount of detailed preparation and we utilised the skills of one of our finest barristers.
Outcome: Our client was found Not Guilty but all the other defendants were convicted.
Route to case: Recommendation from a former client.
Lewes Crown Court:
We defended a middle-aged builder in regard to a serious dishonesty allegation.
Hedley had acted for him at the police station level and we instructed one of our best young London counsel for his trial. The jury were out about three hours.
Outcome: He was acquitted and has subsequently sent in a kind testament which we post in our Tributes section.
Route to the case: Recommendation from his South London family.
Comment:
We must stress how important it is for this firm to be contacted at the earliest stage of a case. Suspects need our independent advice and assistance.We run a 24 hour emergency service.
Manchester Crown Court:
We were defending a young lady in a big drugs case. She was one of seven defendants and we represented her right from middle-of-the night interrogations at the police station all the way to her Crown Court jury trial. There was a considerable amount of detailed preparation and we utilised the skills of one of our finest barristers.
Outcome: Our client was found Not Guilty but all the other defendants were convicted.
Route to case: Recommendation from a former client.
Lewes Crown Court:
We defended a middle-aged builder in regard to a serious dishonesty allegation.
Hedley had acted for him at the police station level and we instructed one of our best young London counsel for his trial. The jury were out about three hours.
Outcome: He was acquitted and has subsequently sent in a kind testament which we post in our Tributes section.
Route to the case: Recommendation from his South London family.
Comment:
We must stress how important it is for this firm to be contacted at the earliest stage of a case. Suspects need our independent advice and assistance.We run a 24 hour emergency service.
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