Blog
Direct access Barrister | Criminal, Motoring & Regulatory Law
Proving your innocence
The presumption of innocence is supposed to be one of the hallmarks of the English justice system. Yet I see men and women wrongly accused of criminal behaviour all the time - and their lives are turned upside down. Sometimes, it is a former partner who's trying to...
To respond or not to respond: Legal letter writing rules
Taking out the heat Ever find yourself in the middle of a tsunami of - someone else's toxic correspondence? You have choices. Firstly, you can choose to ignore. You may think that the writer has issues which have nothing to do with you. Getting involved would be akin...
Why am I talking?
People in trouble always ask, "should I talk to the police?". The answer to my readers is, "it depends" - and that's why you need to W.A.I.T. W.A.I.T. is something all of us should remember. It's shorthand for, "Why am I talking?" Am I talking because I think I can...
4 reasons why you should book your Trial barrister now
Why shouldn't you wait to book your trial barrister? Because what your barrister does behind the scenes before your trial date is just as important as what they do at your trial. If you know your trial date, why haven't you booked your barrister of choice yet? A...
The cost of being a legal aid lawyer
Can you afford to be a Criminal legal aid lawyer? I used to be a local government lawyer - but the problem was that I was jealous of my opponents. I wanted their independence - and I really liked the way they could get justice for vulnerable people. I think I was...
Raymond v Honey [1983] AC1
raymond-v-honey
What is the best time to ask the CPS to drop the case?
Is it too late to ask the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the case? If you've read my previous posts of how to get the CPS to drop the case against you, you'll know that the Crown has a duty to review the evidence against you before deciding whether the case should...
How to fill out a PET Preparation for Effective Trial Form
What is a PET form and how should you fill it out? Most people heading for their first court date don't realise that they need to fill out a Preparation for Effective Trial form before the Magistrates will see them. Some try to do it themselves - while others get the...
Stratford Magistrates Court in the time of Covid-19
Would you step into Stratford if it was your workplace? If Covid-19 is an airborne transmitted virus, why is Stratford Magistrates Court open? How can hand sanitiser and taping off some chairs be enough when people who talk for a living are crammed into small rooms...
While you’re waiting, maybe you’d like to ask the CPS to drop the case?
What can you do to move your case along during the corona court backlog? Criminal proceedings hanging over your head can have a big affect on your mental health. The exponential growth of the Magistrates Court backlog of cases means that an unprecedented number of...
