Blue Badge Display

Having access to a disabled blue badge either for yourself or others is supposed to help. There are council initiatives pushing to prosecute any misuse. 

However honest citizens beware as they have created an incentive for traffic enforcement officers to jump at any chance to prosecute for failing to display correctly or using inappropriately without the registered person.

Be careful not to store your badge where it can be seen as that could be defined as displayed. If you do display make sure nothing obscures it as that is an offence. 

If your parking zone requires you to use the clock then make sure it is set accurately. 

Enforcement officers are encouraged to find these problems so be careful, if you are summoned contact Lts we can help. 

Vote for justice

Only ousting the conservatives will protect the criminal justice system. Their  destruction of the right to fair representation by is a welfare disSter. We will be left with a system like America a where the rich can secure representation but the poor will have at best second rate poorly qualified and poorly motivated representatives . 

The torygraph and grayling will no doubt say that cuts had to be made, but this is just an excuse. The chancellor gave away the Same amount of money as they are trying to save when he reduced tax on a pint by 1p.

The real reason is so the government will have little opposition to the almost police state they would have us live in while yet again pinning the pockets of their big business friends at the expense of the ordinary man.

Yes but their criminals I hear you cry . It still amazes us defence lawyers how many times we hear that. Here's the truth not everyone arrested is a criminal. Here is an example, man is arrested for offences of assault against a child when he was a teacher 30 years ago. Police arrest and want to interview, turns out he never taught at the school!or perhaps the medical professionals arrested for child porn , arrested home and office searched, turns out a credit card stolen from him was the only link. 

I hope you that work and have saved hard just in case you are suspected of an offence. The deputy speaker of the House of Commons was accused of rape was acquitted but still had to pay thousands of pounds for his defence and couldn't get a penny back due to the laws passed by his friends! 

Not listening

So The Lord chancellor was judicially reviewed and was told by a senior judge that his actions were illegal. He passes this off as a technicality and then seeks to get round it by launching the shortest "consultation" in history. The shortness of time speaks volumes about how the moj have no interest in what is said in the responses. 

The sad reality is that they simply don't want to listen to the thousands telling them that their plan for a two tier system is flawed. It will result in the collapse of a system hitherto admired the world over. 

It simply is not economically possible to cover the work in the insane geographical areas proposed for rates of pay which had already been frozen for 19years and now are to be reduced by 17.5%

It will result in poor quality representation miscarriages of justice and ultimately a police state where only the rich can defend their rights. 

Magma carta is dead. Well done grayling. 

Lts becomes one of Lexcel elite

We are pleased to confirm Latham Tanikal Solicitors have passed the rigorous assessment to become Lexcel accredited. 

Very few firms choose the constant reviews and high standards expected of Lexcel, but we feel it confirms the high standards we have been setting for many years. 

We hope it assists clients to know we are part of the law society backed scheme. The partners would like to thank all those involved in achieving this standard and to maintaining it in the future.

The firm provides quality representation from the police station, magistrates Court and into the Crown Court. As a legal aid provider we can offer advice on public funding. If your not eligible don't worry we offer private client rates to suit all with payment plans to solve cash flow problems. We also work with insurers as you maybe eligible under either a car insurance policy or a household policy.

We have expertise in Court Martial work defending those in the armed forces charged here or abroad. Whether being investigated or charged before a court martial let us target your best defence. 

Our vast experience with environmental law will help those facing investigation by the environment agency, RSPCA, Trading Standards and Health and Safety executive. Individuals or companies will benefit from our personal touch and experience.

As the police expand the revenue building network of speed cameras and mobile camera units everyone's licence is at risk. Here we can provide expert advice on how to defend road traffic offences and also how to best defend against losing your licence. 

Latham Tanikal Solicitors

Lexcel Accredited 

Driving licences

Are not just for driving they provide access to work, bring care to loved ones, transport kids to schools,   Pay the mortgage in fact countless necessities.

We have spent this week helping not just the drivers but their whole families keep their licences, homes and jobs.

 

We always offer a free initial consultation, private fixed fees with a range of payment options to suit all budgets. So whether its too many points, high speed offences, no insurance or any road traffic offences we can help you.

Don't get passed from pillar to post never speaking or being represented by the same person come to our niche firm where we provide a personal quality experience.

Lts road traffic experts

Driving licence saved

We are experiencing a high number of clients who are at risk of losing their licence as they have too many points on their licence. Most fear for their jobs. So far we have persuaded courts into lower sentences or run exceptional hardship arguments to save not just licences but jobs and homes for clients and their families.

We offer a tailor made service at courts all over North Yorkshire, humbler side and West Yorkshire. The earlier we are aware the better chance you have. 

Contact us 01904 234035

No new crown court work

So The Lord chancellor has tried to split the two professions. Solicitors are angry and have taken a massive decision not to take on new crown court cases. This is intended to bring the crown court to a halt and hopefully the government to its senses. 

It won't happen straight away, but one area at a time is stopping, barristers will not be able to be instructed and cases will come to a grinding halt. 

Why

The two tier system the government wants even though it's own accountants don't agree it is workable, will destroy the hundreds of year old system that has protected the innocent and held to account the guilty.

How - it just isn't financially viable to have qualified staff working on the proposed rates and in the geographical areas prpoposed. Ont top off which after 19 years with no rise in rates of pay, there has already been an 8.75% cut with another planned for next year.

Meanwhile everything else has got more expensive, rent,rates, utilities, IT, paper, phones, petrol, wages and so on. Firms just can't absorb these cuts. Especially when expected to cover huge areas meaning more expense for less. 

What will happen - under the new system proposed large companies will try to make it work.  G4s, serco you know those responsible for the tagging contract frauds and Olympic Games disaster. Confidence building isn't it. The only way will be to desk ill the role to pay less. 

Those who will suffer will be those who will be unable to afford to pay privately. 

To those who say who cares about criminals, don't kid yourself. We don't just deal with druggies and thieves. We represent everyone, from teachers, dentists doctors, bus drivers, mechanics, farmers, plumbers in fact everyone. Fact the police don't always get it right. 

Example man drives down the road, never been in trouble police, has job family and is driving at the speed limit. Un.known to him some one in front of him is speeding crashes car and his passengers get out, our client comes along sees a problem but as it is dark simply slows down as all he can see are red lights on a car, he moves to over take at slow speed and hits and kills the passengers. Both drivers find themselves in court for dangerous driving, even though experts agree in the dark he could not have stopped by the time passengers became visible. 

This is a true case he had a trial and fortunately due to the expert representation he got by his solicitor and barrister he was acquitted. Under the new system unless he could pay privately he would get someone only interested in meeting their quota for the day, then it would be passed to an under qualified in house advocate to deal with crown court. He would be under pressure to get him to plead as under the new system the fee is the same and it is much less work for a plea, not to mention he has never done a trial like this before. Still confident. 

Second example youth at police station who has learning difficulties. Alleged to have stolen something. It's a fixed fee so under new system big firm sends least qualified to deal with it to get it done as quickly as possible. You admits offence and ends up in court. Under the old system the solicitor dealing would have spent time with him determined his condition styed with him for the whole process and obtained medical reports showing he didn't have the mental ability to know what he was doing was wrong. Still have confidence.

I have thousands of examples.

What do the solicitors want

1.  An end to two tier system

2. No more cuts

3. Long term contract to ensure stability

We don't want to inconvenience anyone but we have to make a stand, to protect the system to protect our clients and to ensure we are able to be there for our clients. 

Death by a thousand cuts

So it seems all are expecting The Lord chancellor to replace plan a with inevitable plan b, cuts. 

Does no one up there see the reality of what is going on down here in the trenches? 

An example at the same time they have published the quasa fee structure. That is how much every criminal solicitor will need to pay to practice in the mags. Isn't that why we pay our practising certificate fee  and duty scheme fee?

If you want to practice as hca there are more fees. The feeling is we are being bled dry. 

Cuts to fees and increased costs plus rising inflation followed by reducing volume , doesn't take an accountant to work out the inevitable. 

Too thick to pick

Our non lawyer but Lord Chancellor has deemed those clients of criminal firms too thick to pick their own lawyer. Instead he wants the state that is prosecuting you to choose for you. 

The state will squeeze those solicitors by price competitive tendering into offering only an adequate service. Is that one asks to reduce the chance of the state losing a case? Irrespective of whether they are guilty or innocent. 

It's strange but mr Grayling seems to forget that these clients are also able to pick an mp and the political party they decide are capable of running the country. The ones we have spoken to in relation to the pct proposals are telling us that not only are they not too thick to pick but they shall be picking at the next election and it won't be you mr Grayling or you Mr Cameron Mr Clegg they feel that having looked at the market they will exercise their right to choose a party and an mp who is not destroying their rights. 

You have misjudged the public feeling about the guardians against the state there is still time to stop this disaster and to support the big society by safeguarding what the public see as their right to choose a lawyer to protect them against the state and to provide them fair funding to allow that to be done. 

Why do we need criminal lawyers?

The most asked question we get is how do you do it representing the guilty? 

The first thing is not everyone is guilty. The police do get it wrong. 25% are innocent. The cornerstone of our system and why we are held out as the best justice system in the world is that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Why? Because it is better that a few guilty walk free than one innocent man goes to prison wrongly. 

However that is not the end of it because yes we do represent guilty people. Firstly we only know they are guilty when they accept it and instruct us so. Secondly even guilty people need to be treated fairly. The prosecution have the resources of the police and will be represented by the Crown Prosecution Service. Literate often degree level and beyond educated, experienced and trained. We have always believed that a defendant guilty or not should not be disadvantaged by their lack of training,education or experience. We simply provide our clients with access to someone with the same level of skill as the prosecution.

Most of my clients are illiterate. Unable to read the papers let alone formulate questions to ask in an articulate way during a trial. Nor could they present their mitigation in line with the guidelines. Even the literate struggle to do so and all lack the training or experience.

Why so important ? We do not want an increase of miscarriages of justice. No more Sally Clarkes or Guildford four, Birmingham 6 the list is endless. 

We know the public purse is not bottomless, but justice is the cornerstone of a civilised country. Legal representation without choice using the cheapest bidders who are from the same companies that are also running the prisons, probation, transport to court and any other arm the moj can sell off, is no justice at all. We will end up like America where the rich pay their way out of trouble and the poor cant afford representation so are given a poorly paid public defender who is only interested in moving the case off their desk. 

We all want the system to work but not cut price that destroys it and allows the creation of a police state. Exaggeration? A weak defence will lead to erosion of protection of the innocent and the police will take more and more ground until it will be guilty unless you can afford a proper defence.

Law society fit for purpose?

After Des Hudson's failure to grasp the truth behind Graylings threats to the bar and his planned removal of client choice as an extinction level event, one has to ask is the law society fit for the purpose of protecting our criminal justice system.

Every criminal solicitor I have spoken to is opposed to pct and standing firm with our bar friends. They all know that Graylings proposals will create a two tier justice system where the rich will be more likely to be acquitted than the poor. Think oj Simpson.

Will criminal solicitors give up like the law society or band together to fight for our clients, the justice system and ourselves?

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.

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.