Criminal Defence Solicitors in Birmingham

Have you been arrested? Are you due to be interviewed by police under caution? Perhaps you have been released on bail or under investigation? Or are you worried about whether you may be accused of committing an offence?

We know how confusing, upsetting and stressful it can be to be caught up in a criminal investigation or prosecution, especially when there can be life changing consequences if things go the wrong way.

Whatever situation you find yourself facing, clear legal advice from an experienced criminal defence lawyer is essential to protect your rights and help you get the best possible outcome.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our specialist criminal lawyers in Birmingham have achieved an exceptional track record of success for our clients over the years. We regularly support clients at police stations and in prosecution all over the UK, including at the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court, Crown Court, Court of Appeal and all the way up to the Supreme Court where necessary.

Our team regularly helps clients to avoid charges, secure early acquittals and achieve not guilty verdicts in court. Where a conviction cannot be avoided, we can often secure reduced penalties by making sure all relevant circumstances are taken into account.

When you work with our criminal defence experts, we will make sure you clearly understand your legal position and defence options, while giving you sympathetic personal support throughout what can be a very challenging process.

We can help you to access legal aid where available and, should you need to self-fund your representation, we can offer fixed fees and transparent cost estimates to match your needs.

It is important to us that everyone who needs it can access our legal expertise, so we are always available in person and over the phone, and we can visit you in prison if required.

Our highly experienced criminal defence solicitors in Birmingham offer:

24/7 legal support in person and over the phone, 365 days a year
Representation anywhere in England or Wales
Accredited Police Station Representatives to support you during a police interview
Clear, effective legal advice in any language (see our languages spoken)

So, if you have been arrested, charged, released on bail or under investigation, or if you need to get a clear understanding of your legal position, please get in touch with our specialist criminal defence solicitors now.

Speak to our criminal defence lawyers in Birmingham now

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options, please call 0121 614 3333.

For urgent advice at any time of day or night, please call our emergency number 07891 777090.

You can also email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk or fill out our quick online enquiry form and we will get back to you quickly.

Why choose JD Spicer Zeb’s criminal law solicitors in Birmingham?

When you are arrested or interviewed under caution by the police, you are entitled to free legal representation. However, it is essential to realise that not all criminal defence lawyers are the same and the representation you get right from the start can make a big difference to whether you are charged or prosecuted and the outcome of any prosecution.

Every police station will have ‘duty solicitors’ available who can represent you, but you are also free to choose your own lawyer. While a duty solicitor will be trained lawyer, they will not necessarily have the experience or specialist expertise to best advise you about the types of charges you are facing. This is especially true if those charges relate to situations whether there are complicated circumstances to consider.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our dedicated criminal defence lawyers have decades of experience supporting clients facing the most complex and high stakes charges. With a detailed understanding of criminal law and the various defence options available, we can quickly identify any flaws in the case against you and ensure all mitigating circumstances are brought to light.

Our team have a very strong track record of helping our clients to avoid charges wherever possible. If you are charged, we can give you the best chance of seeing those charges dropped or securing a not guilty verdict in court. Where conviction cannot be avoided, we will use all of our legal expertise to help minimise the criminal penalties you face.

So, if you need expert criminal defence representation, our team are available to act in your defence around the clock, including weekends and bank holidays.

Our criminal defence expertise

Our dedicated team of criminal solicitors in Birmingham can advise and represent you for all stages of criminal proceedings related to offences including but not limited to:

Sexual Offences
Assaults, from Common Assault to Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH)
Theft, Burglary and Robbery
Benefit fraud
Serious Fraud
White Collar Crime
Conspiracies
Cyber Crime
Public Order Offences
Driving Offences
Youth Crime
Murder
Manslaughter
Serious Crime
Firearms
Drugs Offences (from simple possession to possession with intent to supply, drugs conspiracies, cultivation and production)
Human Trafficking
Terrorism
Money Laundering
Extradition
Breach of Court Orders (including Non-Molestation Orders and Restraining Orders)

To find out more about our criminal defence expertise, please take a look at our case studies.

Funding your criminal defence

Funding police station representation

You have the right to free legal representation if you are arrested or interviewed under caution by the police. This free legal advice can be provided by whichever duty solicitor is available at the time or you can choose your own solicitor.

Funding your legal defence if you are prosecuted

If you are prosecuted, you may be able to get a Representation Order (legal aid) to cover some or all of your defence costs. Exactly how much financial assistance you can get and the application process will depend on which type of court you are prosecuted in.

Magistrates’ Court prosecutions

For a Magistrates’ Court prosecution, a Representation Order can potentially cover some or all of your defence costs.

To qualify for legal aid for Magistrates’ Court, you must pass:

A means test – To show you need help to fund your defence.
A merit test – To show your defence is in the interests of justice.

Crown Court prosecutions

For a Crown Court prosecution, a Representation Order will at most cover some of your legal costs and you will be required to fund the rest yourself.

To qualify for legal aid for Crown Court, you only need to pass a means test, as having legal representation will automatically be considered to be in the interests of justice.

Private fees

If you do need to meet some or all of the cost of your legal defence, we will clearly explain all of the costs involved and our fee structures. It is worth remembering that any contribution you make towards your legal costs will be refunded if you are found not guilty.

Please get in touch to discuss our criminal defence fees or you can take a look at our guide to funding your criminal defence.

Common questions about criminal investigations and prosecutions

What happens if you are arrested?

During an arrest, the arresting officers are legally required to tell you:

That they are police officers
That you are being arrested
What specific offence or offences you are believed to have committed
Why it is necessary for you to be arrested
That you are not free to leave

They must also caution you using the words:

“You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

The police have the power to do the following when arresting you:

Search you
Use ‘reasonable force’ if you resist arrest, try to escape or become violent
Handcuff you if the arresting officers feel this is appropriate

When you have been arrested, you will normally be transferred to a police station, held in custody (in a cell) and then interviewed.

Following a police interview, you can expect one of several things to happen:

You are released with no further action
You are released under investigation
You are detained in custody
You are charged with a specific offence

Should you be charged with an offence:

A hearing date will be set
You will either be:
Released on bail
Kept in custody until your court hearing

Please note, if you are released under investigation or with no further action, you can be rearrested or summonsed to attend a court hearing at any time.

Can police search your phone when they arrest you?

Police are allowed to search your phone, as well as downloading and storing your data, as long as they have reasonable grounds to believe your phone may contain evidence related to an offence.

In practice, our experience and figures from police forces across the UK show that police officers routinely search mobile devices belonging to suspects, victims and witnesses – often without informing the owners of those devices that this is going on.

You should therefore always assume that police may access your mobile phone and any data held on it when they arrest you.

Will a criminal conviction affect your ability to get a job?

Potentially, although this depends on the nature of the conviction, what job you are applying for and whether the conviction is ‘spent’. It is generally standard practice for employers to ask for information about your criminal record when applying for most jobs.

If you are required to undertake DBS check as part of a job application or as a condition of your continued employment, certain criminal convictions will show up during the check and could affect your employment.

Uncertain whether you need to disclose a criminal conviction to an employer or potential employer? Take a look at the government’s guide to telling people about your criminal record.

Contact our Birmingham criminal law defence solicitors today

For urgent specialist advice, immediate representation or to speak to us confidentially about a potential criminal charges or prosecution, you can contact our Birmingham criminal defence team by:

Phone: 0121 614 3333

Email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form and we will get back to you quickly.