Solicitors in Cambridge | Criminal defence, motoring law, immigration and divorce

Scarsdale Solicitors acts for clients in Cambridge and across Cambridgeshire on a fixed-fee basis. We handle everything remotely by phone, email and video, so you do not need a solicitor based in Cambridge. We also act for clients in Ely, Huntingdon, Newmarket, St Neots and Royston.

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Cambridge has both a Magistrates’ Court and a Crown Court, so most cases stay local. Summary offences and the early stages of either-way cases are dealt with at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court. Serious offences and jury trials go to Cambridge Crown Court on East Road. That means less travel and fewer disruptions for Cambridge residents going through the court process.

If you are arrested or asked to attend a voluntary interview by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, get advice from a solicitor before answering any questions. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, you have the right to legal advice before and during any interview under caution. The police must tell you about this right, but they are not obliged to wait long before proceeding. We advise clients by phone during police interviews at any time of day or night, and we help you understand which questions to answer and when silence is the better option. If you need immediate help at a police station, see our police station solicitors page.

Cambridge has two universities and over 45,000 students. That population creates a specific pattern of criminal charges. Drunk and disorderly, public order offences and common assault make up a regular portion of cases linked to the student population. For UK students, a criminal conviction can affect future employment and professional registration. For international students, the consequences can be more immediate. A conviction for a criminal offence can trigger a review of your visa status, and the Home Office may curtail or refuse to extend a student visa where there is a criminal record. If you are an international student facing charges, you need a solicitor who understands both the criminal process and the immigration consequences. We handle criminal defence and immigration law and can advise on both from the start of the case.

Public order offences are the most common charges we see from Cambridge. Incidents around the Mill Road area, the market square and the late-night venues on Sidney Street regularly produce section 4 (fear or provocation of violence) and section 5 (disorderly behaviour) charges under the Public Order Act 1986. We also handle affray charges, which involve unlawful violence in a group setting and carry up to three years at the Crown Court.

Harassment charges have increased across Cambridgeshire, including cases involving social media, messaging apps and email. Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the prosecution must prove a course of conduct on at least two occasions. Stalking carries heavier penalties, particularly where it involves fear of violence. These cases turn on digital evidence, and we examine the messages, call logs and social media records in detail to challenge the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence.

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We are a paid-services firm with fixed fees agreed before you instruct us. No Legal Aid, no hourly billing. A solicitor handles your case from start to finish. Our clients rate us 4.6 out of 5 from 258 Google reviews.

For a full overview of what we cover, see our criminal defence solicitors page. We also act for clients in Luton and Peterborough.