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Legal help- what to do

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West

Member since
July 2024

25 posts

How did you all decide what to do in terms or legal representation? I think we will qualify for legal aid but I'm not sure that solicitors will give the best advice/ have experience of this type of crime. Is it better to go privately with a specialist?

How much did you all pay for legal representation? Whether that was privately or what you have to pay back if you go with legal aid?

I'm so lost and not sure what to do or how much difference it will make. I'm torn between 'no amount of money is too much for helping my person' to 'there is so much uncertainty, we should hold on to every penny'

Help!

Posted Tue July 30, 2024 4:14pmReport post

Inthemoment

Member since
February 2023

386 posts

Hi West, there are a couple of solicitors that a lot of people on here recommend, one of which I believe does legal aid - have a search and if you can't find then do feel free to message me

Posted Tue July 30, 2024 7:06pmReport post

Ocean

Member since
September 2023

933 posts

Hi West, we went with the same local firm of solicitors that provided the duty solicitor on the evening of the arrest. I think these types of crimes are sadly so common now that most solicitors have exoerience in dealing with them.
I think we paid about £500 for plea hearing and about £1200 for sentencing.

Posted Tue July 30, 2024 9:12pmReport post

scaredandconfused

Member since
June 2021

437 posts

We searched for a few solicitors that deal with this sort of thing, the one said over £1000 and the next once was about £350 for everything and as the company said they can only do the same thing some companies just want the money, we went with the cheaper one and they we're great from start to finish. We then managed to get legal aid so then that paid for the sentencing part

Posted Wed July 31, 2024 7:58am
Edited Wed July 31, 2024 7:59amReport post

edel2020

Member since
March 2022

519 posts

I would say the most important thing is whether he intends to plead guilty or not guilty. If it's not guilty then probably worth paying for a specialist, because the stakes are so much higher.

But if its going to be a guilty plea then those are relatively straightforward and most high street solicitors will be able to deal with that.

Posted Wed July 31, 2024 10:35amReport post

MC96

Member since
February 2022

34 posts

We went with a private specialist. We only instructed them once charges came through. We paid 6k for magistrates and sentencing.

Posted Wed July 31, 2024 8:08pmReport post

Bub84

Member since
January 2024

130 posts

The first solicitor we found quoted us £30,000 so we have now found a new solicitor who has experience in these cases and he is taking on the case as legal aid. We find out tomorrow if my husband will be charged x

Posted Thu August 1, 2024 6:09pmReport post

West

Member since
July 2024

25 posts

Thanks everyone. We're post charge, and looking at a mixed plea so think it might be worth a specialist but the one we've found we like so far said legal aid can't be offered because of the area we live in. I didn't know it was location dependent and I'm not really sure how to find out who offers legal aid in our area and who would also be experienced in this area.



Best quote I've found from a specialist so far is about £8k for a mixed plea

Posted Thu August 1, 2024 10:51pmReport post

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