Do We Offer Free Consultations?

Where it is possible in criminal law cases, we aim to provide an initial telephone or email consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

• Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
• Public and private funding benefits.
• Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
• An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
• Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
• The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
• Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
• Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
• Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
• Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.
• If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
• This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases:

• Family, Immigration or any other area of Law.
• If we do not intend to take the case on.
• In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
• Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are too complicated to assess in short consultations.
• The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
• The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
• In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
• If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
• If you have been released under investigation/on pre charge bail or have already had a police station attendance. 
• If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
• If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
• To businesses.
• Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
• Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
• Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
• Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
• Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
• If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
• If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.