Criminal Law

The criminal department has a specialist team. We will offer comprehensive legal advice throughout all stages of the Criminal Justice Process, and help you understand what is happening. We deal with Legal Aid cases and private paying work. We can aid you through all processes of the Criminal Justice System.

Police Station

If you are arrested and taken to a police station you are entitled to free and independent legal advice at any time during your detention before, during and after interview. We have somebody available at all times, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Call our emergency/out of hours number 01543 222 020.

Voluntary Interview

If you are being interviewed under caution as a volunteer you might be entitled to free legal advice and representation whether this is a police station, council offices or with the Department of Work and Pensions.

Magistrates Court

We deal with general crime – Crown Prosecution Service, Private Prosecution, Probation Breaches and Motoring cases. We are frequently the duty solicitor at Cannock Magistrates Court but cover many courts throughout the County (Cannock, Stafford, Burton and Stoke) and the West Midlands. Also, depending on the type of matter we have attended other courts throughout England and Wales.

Crown Court

We deal with all proceedings in the Crown Court including matters committed from the Magistrates Court and appeals from the Magistrates Court. We have undertaken serious crime matters including murder, rape, drug conspiracies and fraud in the Crown Courts throughout the Country. Apart from our own in-house experienced Crown Court advocates we also have close and long established links with specialist Barristers Chambers in the City of Birmingham.

Tribunals

By reason of our range and depths of experience we can undertake advocacy matters in all types of tribunal or adjudication.

Legal Aid

We deal with Legal Aid throughout the criminal process, you might be eligible and we will discuss this with you upon first making contact with us.

Private Cases

If you are not eligible for Legal Aid, we deal with cases on a privately funded basis. We can deal with all or some of a case – please ask for a schedule of our costs. We offer a single 30 minute appointment for ‘one off’ Legal Advice for a standard fixed fee of £120.00 plus VAT (£144.00)

Costs

Motoring

Our fees for Court attendance will depend on the type of hearing and individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if your case is un-contested (Guilty Plea with no legal argument in relation to driving disqualification) costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there is a contested hearing (Not Guilty with a Trial) costs will be charged at the higher end of the range.

Our charges will be calculated mainly by reference to the time spent by us dealing with your matter. This includes attending on you and any witnesses, advising you, dealing with papers, correspondence, telephone calls, travelling and waiting time. The charge rates are reviewed annually but we will not raise the charges on any matter once it has commenced.

Our calculation of the amount required on account of our costs is based on our estimate of how long we expect your case to take. However, this estimate may change as the case proceeds. We will let you know if it becomes apparent that we will have to spend substantially more time on this matter than we have currently estimated.

Initial Consultation

If you have not yet entered a Plea or have not received a Court date and would like to speak to us about your case the following charges will apply: -

* 30 mins - 1 hour - Initial Consultation and consideration of the Prosecution papers: £120.00 plus VAT (£144.00) – Fixed Fee

Early Guilty Plea – Magistrates Court

If you face a Road Traffic Offence to which you plead Guilty, the Court may sentence you on the first hearing date. In these circumstances the following charges will apply:

* Guilty Plea 1 hearing - £500.00 plus VAT (£600.00) – Fixed Fee

* Guilty Plea 2 hearings - £750.00 plus VAT (£900.00) – Fixed Fee

Not Guilty Plea – Trial – Magistrates Court

If you plead not guilty to a Road Traffic Offence your case will be adjourned for Trial. This means that there will be a hearing where the Court hears all evidence after which, decide will decide whether you are found not guilty / guilty.

Our fee for representation will depend on the length of the Trial and the nature and complexities of the offence: In these circumstances the following charges will apply:

* Not Guilty Trial (no more than 1 day Hearing) - £1800.00 plus VAT (£2160.00) – Fixed Fee

* If the Trial extends beyond 1 day, an additional daily rate of £750.00 plus VAT (£900.00 per day) – Fixed Fee

Application for Early Removal of Driving Disqualification – Magistrates Court

Application to the Court for early revocation of driving disqualification. If disqualified between under 4 years at least 2 years has to be completed. Disqualification of 4 - 10 years 50% of the disqualification needs to be completed before an application can be made. In any other case 5 years.

The Court will be interested in, your character and conduct following conviction; the nature of the offence for which disqualification was ordered; and any other relevant circumstances (e.g. Employment)

* Early removal of Driving Disqualification - £1000.00 plus VAT (£1200.00) – Fixed Fee

Application to Magistrates Court to Re-Open a case

* Application to re-open case - £1000.00 plus VAT (£1200.00) – Fixed Fee

Appeal from Magistrates Court to Crown Court

* Appeal to Crown Court Conviction and/or Sentence - £1500.00 plus VAT (£18000.00) – Fixed Fee

Exceptional Hardship Hearing - Motoring – Magistrates Court

Application to the Court to not disqualify you from driving as if they were to it would cause exceptional hardship to you and/or others.

* Exceptional Hardship Hearing - £1000.00 plus VAT (£1200.00) – Fixed Fee

Special Reasons – Motoring – Magistrates Court

Special reasons not to disqualify from driving or endorse driving licences with penalty points. For a Court to find "special reasons" the following criteria must be met: The reason must be mitigating or extenuating circumstance; It must not amount to a defence; It must be directly connected to the commission of the offence, and the reason must be one that the Court ought properly to consider when imposing punishment.

* Special Reasons Argument - £1000.00 plus VAT (£1200.00) – Fixed Fee

In every case we will:

* Consider the evidence

* Take your instructions

* Draft / prepare any applications

* Provide advice regarding the likely outcome, including sentencing options

* Attend and provide representation at the Magistrates / Crown Court

There will be additional costs (disbursements) to the fees quoted above if we are required to:

* Instruct Experts

* Instruct Counsel (i.e. an External Barrister)

* Advise or assist in relation to any matter heard in the Crown Court, including Appeals

* Incur travel costs e.g. mileage, parking, train fares

Fixing the cost of cases

Some cases are easier to predict than others in some instances, it may be possible to quote a fixed price for a particular task. If you would like us to quote you on a fixed price basis, please let us know. You should be aware, that this can only ever be based on known or expected factors. Thus, if you are provided a quote for a Court hearing and that hearing is adjourned, we will in those circumstances provide a re-quote for the adjourned hearing.