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Do you pay for duty solicitor to resent you at court?

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Bondi

Member since
December 2023

67 posts

Posted Wed January 8, 2025 6:51pmReport post

Husband had a duty solicitor upon arrest and imagine using them at court as charges due any day now, do you pay for them or are they free?

I see people use specialist solicitors and pay so much but we are not in any position for thousands in fees (but working so no legal aid?)

Had mixed replies so far.

Thank you

lostinthewoods

Member since
September 2024

76 posts

Posted Thu January 9, 2025 8:44amReport post

As far as I am aware the duty solicitor will only be free for the first interview. Anything after that will incur a charge.

It would be worth you speaking to the duty solicitor's practice to check for sure - I'm sure most solicitors are happy to set up a payment plan - not many of us have a spare few thousand pounds hanging about!

Good luck xx

edel2020

Member since
March 2022

408 posts

Posted Thu January 9, 2025 10:38amReport post

There will be a duty solicitor at the magistrates court, who can represent you one time for free. This is not the same person who represented you at the police interview, but a different duty solicitor, under a seperate scheme.

That can be useful because the first appearence at the magistrates is usually a plea, which takes about 10 mins.

After that though there is no free help. There are no duty solicitors at the crown court.

T2021

Member since
December 2020

129 posts

Posted Thu January 9, 2025 4:05pmReport post

You can still get legal aid if working. But they take 90% of your monthly disposable income as a contribution for 6 months.

LittleRobin3

Member since
April 2024

380 posts

Posted Fri January 10, 2025 10:19amReport post

At some pointpoint they'll need to apply for Legal Aid which is means tested so it depends on your income as a family. If you don't qualify, you'll need to pay for a solicitor.