Costs vary depending on the complexity of your case and the court it's heard in. We offer:

• Free police station attendance for everyone
• Legal aid representation for those who qualify (means-tested)
• Fixed fee packages for magistrates court cases (from £1,500)
• Competitive hourly rates for crown court cases
• Payment plans available for private clients

Contact us for a free initial consultation and no-obligation quote tailored to your case.

Magistrates Court:

• Deals with less serious offences (summary and either-way offences)
• Decided by 3 magistrates or 1 district judge (no jury)
• Maximum sentence: 6-12 months imprisonment
• Maximum fine: Unlimited for some offences
• Faster trials

Crown Court:

• Handles serious crimes (indictable and either-way offences)
• Decided by jury of 12 people
• Judge directs on law and passes sentence
• Unlimited sentencing powers
• More formal procedures
• Right to legal aid more readily available

We represent clients in both magistrates courts and crown courts nationwide.

While you have the right to represent yourself (known as being a "litigant in person"), it is strongly inadvisable for criminal cases. Criminal law and court procedures are complex, and the consequences of conviction can be severe - including imprisonment, criminal records, and life-changing impacts on employment and travel.

Professional legal representation significantly improves your chances of a favorable outcome. Our 95% success rate demonstrates the value of expert representation. Many clients who initially tried to represent themselves have come to us after realizing the complexity of the legal process.

We offer free initial consultations and can assess legal aid eligibility or provide competitive fixed-fee quotes.

Legal aid is government funding for legal representation for those who cannot afford a private solicitor. Eligibility depends on:

Means Test (Financial Eligibility):

• Income below £12,475 per year automatically qualifies
• Income £12,475 - £22,325 requires further assessment
• Income over £22,325 usually disqualifies (with exceptions)
• Disposable capital under £3,000 required

Merits Test (Case Eligibility):

• Seriousness of the offence
• Likelihood of imprisonment
• Complexity of the case
• Whether livelihood is at risk
• Damage to reputation

Automatic legal aid is available for:

• Murder charges
• Anyone under 18
• Appearing from custody

We can assess your eligibility during your initial consultation and handle the legal aid application process for you.

If you are convicted of a criminal offence, you will receive a criminal record. The length of time it stays on your record depends on:

• Type of sentence received
• Length of sentence
• Type of offence
• Whether it becomes "spent"

Rehabilitation Periods (when convictions become "spent"):

• Prison sentence over 4 years: Never spent
• Prison sentence 2.5 - 4 years: 7 years
• Prison sentence 1 - 2.5 years: 4 years
• Prison sentence 6 months - 1 year: 2 years
• Prison sentence under 6 months: 18 months
• Community order: 1 year after order ends
• Fine: 1 year
• Conditional discharge: Length of order

Important: Some professions and jobs require disclosure of all convictions regardless of whether spent (teaching, healthcare, law, finance, working with vulnerable people).

This is why fighting for a NOT GUILTY verdict is so important. If you're acquitted, you will NOT have a criminal record for this offence.

The timeline varies significantly depending on the court and complexity:

Magistrates Court Cases:

• Guilty plea: Usually sentenced same day or within weeks
• Not guilty plea: Trial typically 8-12 weeks after plea
• Total time: 2-4 months from charge to conclusion

Crown Court Cases:

• Plea hearing: 4-8 weeks after committal
• Trial: 3-6 months after plea hearing (if not guilty)
• Total time: 6-12 months from charge to trial
• Complex cases can take 18-24 months

Factors affecting timescales:

• Court backlogs
• Witness availability
• Expert evidence requirements
• Disclosure issues
• Whether you're in custody (priority listing)

This is a common situation we deal with. Evidence can be misleading, incomplete, or obtained improperly. Our approach includes:

• Challenging prosecution evidence: Testing reliability, credibility, and admissibility
• Exposing inconsistencies: Identifying contradictions in witness statements
• Alternative explanations: Presenting innocent explanations for the evidence
• Gathering defense evidence: Finding witnesses and evidence supporting your innocence
• Expert testimony: Obtaining expert evidence to challenge prosecution experts
• Technical defenses: Procedural errors and PACE breaches

Remember: The prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Creating reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case is sufficient for acquittal.

Our 95% success rate demonstrates that with the right legal representation, strong prosecution evidence can be successfully challenged.