Investigation Stage
Proceedings Stage
Police Station Interviews
FREE OF CHARGE
If you are arrested and taken to a Police Station or you are invited to attend a Voluntary Interview Under Caution you are entitled to FREE and independent legal advice irrespective of your means.
With us you will always be represented by a Solicitor in person.
We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call 01625 422944.
Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court Cases.
Legal Aid or Private ?
If you are eligible to apply for Legal Aid we will always help you make an application.
In order to be eligible you must meet two tests. 1 Interests of Justice 2 Means. We will be able to assist you with the Interests of Justice Test. The Means Test is usually satisfied if you receive a passported benefit eg Universal Credit or if you are working and your weekly income ( after some deductions ) does not exceed £239.90. We will be happy to assist you with the application.
If your application for Legal Aid ( a Representation Order ) is successful – you will not have to pay a penny for your legal representation.
If you do not qualify for Legal Aid we will be happy to represent you on a Private Client basis. We will provide you with a quote to cover the first hearing and a second quote to cover the rest of the proceedings. If you are found not guilty we will be able to claim some of your costs back, but not all.
Motoring Offences
We are able to represent clients at Courts in Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside and Staffordshire in respect of motoring offences which would not normally qualify for Legal Aid on a fixed fee Private Client basis. Our fee for attending a plea hearing will be £400 plus VAT at a Cheshire Court. There will be an additional fee for travel and travel overheads if the Court is outside Cheshire.
Our fee includes
- attendance on you at Court
- preparation for hearing
- considering evidence
- taking your instructions
- providing advice on likely sentence
- attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court.
Our Fee does not include
- an office or telephone appointment before the hearing to discuss your case ( this is not normally necessary ). There will be an additional fee of £100 plus VAT.
- If your case is adjourned for a second hearing the same rates will usually apply.
- Instruction of any expert witnesses
- taking statements from any witnesses
- advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing
- advice and assistance in relation to any appeal.
Trial
If the matter proceeds to trial our fees for the preparation of the trial are £400 plus VAT ( including an office appointment,) £400 plus VAT for a half day trial attendance or £800 for a full day trial attendance .
If you are found not guilty we will be able to claim some of your costs back, but not all.
Crown Court
The rule relating to Legal Aid when you case goes to the Crown Court, depend on how your case gets to the Crown Court.
Committal for Sentence. Where you plead guilty at the Magistrates’ Court and your case is sent to the Crown Court for sentence – the same rules apply to Legal Aid applications as if the case had been dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court, see above.
Committal for Trial. Where the Magistrates’ Court direct your case to the Crown Court because the Magistrates’ Court have insufficient sentencing powers then the Interests of Justice Criteria is met. The means test still applies and if you are on a passported benefit then Legal Aid will be granted without a contribution. If you are working you may be required to pay a contribution. If you have assets over about £30,000 you may have to pay a contribution.
Please ask.