Failed new world #grayling

Yesterday represented a client have known for 12 years, he presents well but has post traumatic stress disorder as result of his upbringing which he can't talk about with new people.

Under new system will get a faceless defender he doesn't know and who has no idea of his complex background and won't find out about it given his mental health problems. Likely would have gone to prison and as solicitor not know would likely have harmed himself or worse.

Under the old system he selected the solicitor who has represented him for years. All the relevant information is given to court . Non custodial sentence passed client happy and alive.

What guards?

Who guards the guards?
I have always believed that a strong criminal defence solicitor is the guard against a police state and miscarriages of justice. Thus allowing the public to know if the state turned its might against them wrongly then there would at least be someone to protect them.

This government has now put forward the removal of the defence. Accused will no longer be able to choose who defends them. If you earn between you and spouse more than £37k you will have to pay, oh and even if you win you can't get your money back.

The rate of pay is to be so low that there will not be any firms left able to pay for quality advocates. We will end up with a copy of the American two tier system where the rich choose who they want and receive a rolls Royce service. The poor will get a public defender allocated to them and the rates so poor they will be lucky if they get a robin reliant service.

We know most people have little to no sympathy with criminals but perhaps you should know that 25% of people charged with an offence are Innocent!

I have represented teachers, doctors, dentists, nurses all alleged to have committed a crime when in fact they had not.

The government call us fat cats and talk of those earning Upto £500k a year. Ironically the only such people are to be excluded from theses changes. This will affect grass roots firms that in reality are working unsocial hours at the police station and courts for rates that have been frozen for 20 years and reduced in the last few years till we are on less than plumbers mechanics and many others.

We don't do this job for the money, if we wanted that we would have become commercial solicitors. We do it as a vocation, we are the guards. Don't let this government destroy the last safety net before decent into a police state.

Road traffic appeals

If like a recent client you need your licence for work, in this case a taxi driver then please speak to your expert solicitor before the magistrates hearing.

We are coming across a number of cases where people are told they don't need a solicitor or try to save money by not speaking to a solicitor. They end up getting disqualified and then lose their jobs.

We as experts in road traffic can save your licence. The recent client had to suffer two months without his licence before we could win an appeal at the crown court to get it back.

Lts specialists

Firearms

As a game shooter myself I have personal as well as professional experience.

Most firearms units have finally accepted that they need to apply common sense but sadly there are still those that defy logic.

Pigeon shooters please remember that if you are near residential areas that you warn them before setting up. It would also be wise to warn the police in advance. It's not a requirement but can avoid unnecessary hassle.

Post shoot enjoyment is all well and good but remember if leaving your weapon in a vehicle it needs to be secured and if possible out of sight.

Enjoy your season but stay safe and legal

York 10k

Well set out ok with intention of sub one hour however in a crowded run with a poorly leg just happy to finish.

All those who did it will know the soul destroying moment as we ran so close to the finish only to run away from it again. Still thought the race was well organised and a big hand to the marshalls.

Also have to commend the junior and mini races that were very well organised. My 4 year old was over the moon with his medal!!

Back to work tomorrow at the coal face of criminal defence

Speedy justice?

The main delays in court are due to the means testing system which if you happen to be employed or self employed means Upto weeks if you have to be assessed.

The cps can't serve primary disclosure in the current timescale so there is no chance of it managing faster.

Weekend courts and night courts seem not to take into account court staff prosecutors and defence solicitors having a life. Let's not worry about having time off and I am guessing no ffinancial compensation will be put forward.

Perhaps the government should spend all this time and money on a rise in legal aid rates for the first time in 20 years

Why we do this job

Everyone I tell someone what I do they shake their heads and say " I couldn't do your job, how do you do it"

Most have little contact with the police or are too young to remember the good old pre- pace days. Officers using any methods necessary to get a confession whether guilty or not.

Most of my clients are illiterate those who can read and write left school at 16 with little on terms of qualifications. There are those who have mental health problems or learning difficulties

They get to court and are faced with a well educated articulate prosecutor who's job it is to get a conviction.

It is a civilised society that protects the less advantaged against the mistakes of the most advantaged.

A lot of our clients are guilty and deserve the same level of advocacy as the state provides for a victim. Not as many think to get them off but also to explain to the court their circumstances and problems that will assist the court in the most appropriate way forward.

We also do have many innocent clients who deserve the protection of the educated advocate. These can be teachers doctors builders etc

We are the guards who guard the guards.