Appearances at Manchester Magistrates Court

Manchester Magistrates’ Court hears a wide range of different criminal cases. Some of these cases will be dealt with at the Magistrates’ Court, but more serious cases will likely be referred to Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) or Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. We have leading solicitors available to represent you, backed by high-quality independent reviews from satisfied clients.

If you have received a charge or summons to attend a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court or have been bailed to attend Manchester Magistrates’ Court, you may be unsure what steps to take. That is why, if you are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, you need to seek expert legal advice as soon as possible. It could mean the difference between being acquitted or convicted.

If you require legal representation through Legal Aid, you must meet the specific criteria, which will be assessed based on your income and the seriousness of the offence. Please click here for more information.

Our criminal defence solicitors regularly help people accused of crimes in Manchester and the wider Midlands area. When you contact a member of our team, we can provide you with advice and attend your hearing with you at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. We can also provide an Enhanced Private Service for Court Attendances.

For more information about our fees for magistrates’ court cases, please visit our private premium costs page.

Contact our criminal defence solicitors in Manchester for advice today:

Call: 0161 835 1638  
Email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk
Emergency number: 07798 701339

Frequently asked questions about Manchester Magistrates’ Court

How do you find out what court your hearing is at?

When you are charged with a criminal offence, you will likely receive a postal requisition or charge sheet from the police.

A postal requisition is a document that informs you that a hearing has been listed for your case. It also tells you the court you need to attend, brief details of the offence, as well as the date of the hearing.

You may also receive additional documents relating to your hearing, such as evidence or a statement related to the criminal offence you are accused of. A charge sheet is a document that notifies you of the same information as previously listed.

What happens at a first appearance in court?

It is important to understand what to expect if you are due to appear before Manchester Magistrates for your first appearance. At your first hearing, the court will confirm your personal details and formally set out the charges against you. You will then be asked to enter a plea, either guilty or not guilty.

If you plead guilty, the court may proceed straight to sentencing, or the case might be adjourned to allow time for further reports or evidence. If you plead not guilty, your case will either be listed for trial or a further hearing will be arranged to decide the next steps.

Regardless of your circumstances, having expert legal advice is crucial. At JD Spicer Zeb, our experienced criminal defence solicitors can guide you through the process, advise you on your options, and provide you with strong representation at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to help you secure the best possible outcome.

Can our solicitors represent you at Manchester Magistrates’ Court?

Our criminal law solicitors provide excellent legal representation in Manchester Magistrates’ Court cases.

We also frequently attend police stations across the local area to provide clients with prompt and effective legal representation. Some of the stations we regularly cover include:

• Central Park Police Station
• Bolton Police Station
• Swinton Police Station
• Pendleton Police Station
• Cheadle Heath Police Station

The above list is not exhaustive, and you can also be interviewed at other police stations within Manchester, but it is important to note that the above are the most frequently used police stations. Most police units within Manchester have different police stations and have designated interview suites, but not all stations are routinely used for interviews, but this doesn’t stop the police from using those police stations to interview someone in other areas within Manchester.

This means that we can provide consistent service from police station interview all the way to court.

To get things started, you can simply call our London office on 020 7624 7771 or call our Manchester office on 0161 835 1638 or email us at solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk, and a team member will shortly be in touch.

Find out more about our Magistrates’ Court Representation service.

How much do lawyers charge for a discussion about your case?

We can offer two options if you wish to speak to a solicitor about your case before instructing us to deal with your matter at Manchester Magistrates Court.

Meeting via Zoom, 1.5 hours from £500 plus VAT

This includes:

1. Consultation via Zoom up to 1.5 hours.
2. Discussing your case and your instructions, and any papers you have at the meeting.
3. Advice on police station procedures, sentencing guidelines, personal mitigation, and any previous convictions.

Meet in person face to face or via Zoom, up to 2 hours plus 1 hour prep, £750 plus VAT

This includes:

1. A consultation in person at our offices or via Zoom up to 2 hours.
2. Obtaining, where possible, case material beforehand and reading ahead of the consultation up to 1 hour
3. Advice on your case, instructions, police station procedure, sentencing guidelines, personal mitigation and any previous convictions.

How much do lawyers charge for a court appearance?

If you are due to attend your first appearance at Manchester Magistrates Court, we offer two clear options for legal representation at Manchester Magistrates Court, both provided on a fixed-fee basis.

Option 1 – Preparation Meeting and Court Attendance

For those who want detailed preparation ahead of their first appearance at Manchester Magistrates' Court, we offer a fixed fee from £1,500 plus VAT.

This includes:

• A virtual meeting of up to one hour in advance of your hearing. We will discuss the offence, any possible defences, and your personal mitigation.
• Preparation before and after this meeting.
• Representation at your first court appearance (this does not include a trial listing hearing).

Option 2 – Court Attendance Only (Without Advance Meeting)

Alternatively, if you would prefer to proceed without a preparation meeting, we offer a fixed fee of £1,250 plus VAT.

Both options include:

• Representation at your first court appearance at Manchester Magistrates Court (not including trial listing).
• Advice on the court process, the law, and sentencing guidelines.
• Advice on potential defences and your personal mitigation, including factors such as physical or mental health, or other personal circumstances.
• Advice on police station procedure, pre-charge bail conditions, and whether those conditions might be varied.
• Discussion of possible outcomes based on both guilty and not guilty pleas.
• Consideration of potential expert evidence, witnesses, CCTV, forensic or digital evidence that may affect your case.
• Guidance on whether written representations can be made to the police or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to seek an out-of-court resolution or persuade them not to proceed with the case.

Further details on making written representations can be found in our blog here: How Can I Get the Police to Drop Charges Against Me?

How much is it for JD Spicer Zeb to represent me for trial on a private basis at Manchester Magistrates Court?

Our not guilty trial fees range from a starting scale of £2,500 to £5,000 plus VAT. This includes:

• Preparing your case in full for trial up to an agreed number of hours
• Taking witness statements from witnesses supporting your case
• Liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service up until the trial date
• ​Preparing and serving any exhibits related to your case that you may rely on

This does not include any extra costs such as barristers’ fees and expert reports, which may be applicable. We will tailor a full quote for each case.

Am I entitled to legal representation in court?

If you are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, it’s important to have expert legal representation in your corner. Depending on your financial situation, you may be able to fund this privately or apply for legal aid to help cover the cost.

Having an experienced criminal defence solicitor on your side gives you the best chance of achieving a positive outcome. We can explain the charges against you, guide you through the court process, negotiate with the prosecution where appropriate, and prepare a strong defence tailored to your case.

If you are concerned about costs, legal aid may be available to cover some or all of your legal fees. This will depend on both the nature of your case and your financial circumstances.

To find out more about your options or to get advice specific to your situation, contact our specialist criminal defence solicitors today.

What should you do when you arrive at Manchester Magistrates’ Court for your hearing?

We can agree to meet you at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, or, depending on the circumstances of your case, we can agree to meet you beforehand. Manchester Magistrates’ Court has meeting rooms that we can use to speak to you privately before your hearing starts. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to know which meeting room will be available until the day of the hearing.

In every instance, we advise that you arrive at the court at least 30 minutes before your hearing is due to start. This is because you will need to go through security and find out where you need to go. If you are unsure where you need to be, there should be staff on site who can point you in the right direction or show you to certain facilities, such as the toilets.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court contact details

Manchester Magistrates’ Court address

Address:
Crown Square
Manchester
M60 1PR

Manchester Magistrates’ Court phone numbers

For general enquiries: 0161 830 4200  
Witness Services enquiries: 0300 332 1268  
Fax: 0161 830 4208

Manchester Magistrates’ Court email address

For general enquiries: GMManMags@justice.gov.uk
Enforcement: gm-aeu_enquiries@justice.gov.uk  

Manchester Magistrates’ Court opening hours

The court’s opening hours are Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm. The court counter is open for enquiries between 10am to 2pm.

How to reach Manchester Magistrates’ Court

Manchester Magistrates’ Court is in Manchester City Centre, in Crown Square. It’s possible to reach the court on foot or by public transport. There are a number of bus stops located just outside the court, which are served by numbers 1, 100, 35, 36, and 37.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court is also just a short walk away from a number of train stations in the centre of Manchester, such as Deansgate-Castlefield (Manchester Metrolink).

Is there parking at Manchester Magistrates’ Court?

There are no parking facilities at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, however you can park at the following locations using the JustPark Website or App.

• Car Park on Great Ducie Street
• RCP – Hanover Street
• Car Park on Gorton Street
• Q-Park Deansgate North Car Park
• Printworks Car Park

All parking spaces are subject to availability, and there is no guarantee that a space will be available for you.

What other facilities are there at Manchester Magistrates’ Court?

Manchester Magistrates’ Court has the following available facilities:

• Disabled access
• Toilets
• Baby changing facilities
• Lifts
• Interview rooms
• Video facilities
• Loop hearing
• Prayer Room

Assistance dogs are welcome at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

There are lots of places nearby where you will be able to buy food, coffee and other refreshments.

Contact our criminal defence solicitors in Manchester for advice today

If you have a hearing coming up at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, contact our friendly, expert criminal defence solicitors for advice.

For more information about our fees for magistrates’ court cases, please visit our private premium costs page.

Call: 0161 835 1638  
Email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk
Emergency number: 07798 701339