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.

New website

We are very pleased that our new website launched today. Go on have a look you know you want to!!!

Charity golf!!

Well we helped a good charity met the mayor and held closest to the pin for a while, but I don't think our score will trouble the leader board.

Taking a morning to play golf may sound like a bit of a jolly and to be fair we enjoyed it but raising thousands for charity made it all worth while.

Divide and rule

So the government has set barristers against solicitors using the rights of audience and hence fees debate.

It would seem that protagonists on both sides are falling for this when we should be unifying and fighting together against the overall slashing of of legal aid.

I for one think the bar have the right idea and action is needed to show the powers that be that cut after cut is unsustainable.

Let's fight together

Over cautioning

It has been obvious to those at the coal face that the government has been letting the police avoid court for offenders and serious offenders that if you stopped the man in the street they would expect to go to court.

Burglary, Gbh, Abh and sex offenders have been given cautions instead of being sent to court.

The police claim they are following guidelines set down by government the government today suggests the police have gone on a follie of their own. Those cynics/realists suggest it may have something to do with the costs saved by reducing the number of cases before the court.

Justice is being tinkered with by those who should know better simply for cost benefit reasons.

Dangerous Dogs

The changes brought forward by the new sentencing guidelines council highlight the need for owners to take responsibility for their four legged friends.