Fees/Legal Aid
If you are under investigation...
Our attendance for interview at the police station is free regardless of your income.
Our attendance at Benefit Agency or Environment Agency interviews is free if you are in receipt of certain State benefits.
If you are not, then in most cases, we can represent you for a fixed fee.
If you have been charged or summonsed for an offence...
Representation in the Youth Court:
If you are aged 16 and under you are likely to be eligible for free legal representation, ie legal aid.
Representation at the Magistrates Court:
If your case is sufficiently serious and passes what is known as the 'interest of justice' test and you have a low income, legal aid is normally available. Legal aid in the Magistrates Court is means tested and determining eligibility can be fairly complex. Feel free to contact us and we will advise you as to whether you are likely to qualify for free representation.
What if I don't qualify for free represention?
In the vast majority of cases we can offer you representation for a competitive fixed fee. We have managed to do this by keeping our overheads low to ensure you can afford to be represented by an experienced qualified solicitor despite the Government's introduction of means testing in the Magistrates Court in 2007. If you pay privately and you are not convicted of the offence, we can apply to the Court for a refund of your costs. Click below for details of our private rates.
Click for our
private rates
Representation in the Crown Court:
At present this is not means tested. If you are not on benefits and do not have a low income, legal aid is currently still available to pay for your representation.