We represent clients from the initial investigation stages through to Police Stations and Courts. Please see description of individual departments.
At Lloyds PR Solicitors we believe that preparation of a client’s case should begin at the earliest stage possible. Our police station representatives are experienced lawyers. We take the time to carefully review the case against our client and will advise tactically, before, after and during the interview.
If the case progresses to a charge or postal requisition, we will expertly represent clients at the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court stages.
If clients are released pending further investigation, we will frequently contact the officer in the case to ensure we are kept up to date with any developments.
At Lloyds PR Solicitors we pride ourselves on client care and ensuring that our clients are constantly informed on any updates on their cases.
Once charges are authorised, all criminal cases begin at the Magistrates’ Court.
If the offence you have committed is a summary only offence, like shoplifting, you will have a trial in the magistrates Court. We have a dedicated Magistrates Court team who will work hard to ensure that you instruction are taken and you that your case well prepared. We will also ensure that you are represented by an experience advocate at court.
If you are charged with an either way offence, like theft, you may elect the Crown Court for a trial. We will advise you fully on the merits and demerits of any decision. Many of our clients prefer to elect the Crown Court because they prefer to have a Jury in their case whilst others prefer to have a trial in the Magistrate’s Court because the pace at which things happen is much quicker.
At every instance we will look at the individual aspects of each case and advise you on the best course of action.
There are also cases which could be tried in the Magistrate’s Court but for which the Court believes they have insufficient sentencing powers. In these cases your matter will be sent to the Crown Court.
Similarly, there are cases of such severity, like murder and rape, which can only be dealt with in the Crown Courts. Please review our Crown Court section for more information on how we deal with these types of cases.
Crown Court cases are tried by a jury or if the defendant is sentences, then it is dealt with by a Recorder or a Honourable Judge.
If your case is sent to the Crown Court, your case will be allocated to a specific lawyer with expertise in your area of crime.
At Lloyds PR Solicitors we have an experienced Crown Court department and you would be supported at all stages of the case.
We will take detailed instructions from you, prepare you case to the best of our ability, keep you updated at every stage and instruct a Barrister to represent you in Court.
We also undertake appeal from the Magistrates’ Court to the Crown Court.
The Court of Appeal is the second highest court of the UK. Its decisions bind all courts, bar the Supreme Court.
If you are convicted in the Crown Court, you can appeal against either your conviction or your sentence.
There is not an automatic right to appeal to the Court of Appeal. An application must first be made to a Single Judge, who will decide whether to allow permission to appeal. These applications must be expertly drafted, and it is important that you choose a firm, such as Lloyds PR Solicitors, who have experience in dealing with such appeals.
Appeals against conviction
You will have 28 days from the date of your conviction to appeal. It is possible to make a late application, but reasons for your lateness must be given. The only ground that can be pursued is that the conviction is unsafe. This can include a number of causes, for example;
• Failure to refer to a defence
• Misdirection on the facts
• Wrongful admission or exclusion of the evidence
• Defects in the indictment
• Rejection of no case to answer
• Jury irregularities
• Irregularity in relation to verdict
• Inappropriate comments by the Judge
• Prosecution failures over disclosure
• Additional evidence not available at the trial.
Appeal against Sentence
You will have 28 days to submit an appeal post sentence. This application can be made late, if there are exceptional explanations given.
There are two grounds of appeal:
1. The sentence was manifestly excessive, or;
2. The judge made an error of law.
If your appeal against sentence is unsuccessful, there is a risk that the judge could order that the time spent on appeal does not count towards your sentence. This is known as a loss of time direction. We will never advise you to make an appeal unless we think it has merits.
The High Court is a Senior Court within the UK legal system. Lloyds PR Solicitors often represent clients at the High Court.
Extradition Appeals
In the event of an extradition order you can appeal from the Magistrates Court to the High Court. You will have 7 days from the order to make your application for permission to appeal.
If permission is granted, then you have an appeal hearing at the High Court.
Contempt of Court
Contempt of Court is behaviour that takes place during, or in connection with, legal proceedings that prejudices or impedes the administration of justice or creates a real risk of that happening.
Contempt of Court is taken very seriously by the Courts. It can carry up to a two year prison sentence if found guilty.
Lloyds PR has dealt with a number of Contempt of Court cases.
We act in extradition appeal cases to the Supreme Court.
If your appeal at the High Court is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal to the Supreme Court.
In order to appeal to the Supreme Court you must first be granted permission to do so by the High Court. If the High Court refuses this application, permission to appeal may be made directly to the Supreme Court.
In criminal cases, appeals to the Supreme Court are subject to special restrictions. These restrictions limit appeals to exceptional cases of general public importance.
