Areas of Work

If you are contacted by the police and asked to attend the police station to be questioned, call us so that we can assist you throughout the process on 020 7924 8130. If you have already been questioned without a solicitor but are required to go back to the police station at a later date, we can still help you.

For those arrested and taken to the police station unexpectedly, they will be offered the services of a solicitor when they arrive at the police station. You have the right to use a solicitor of your choice and can ask the police to contact Baxter Brown McArthur for you. We can also sometimes assist when asked to do so by friends or family of someone who has been unexpectedly arrested and taken to the police station.

Whatever the allegation or the reason for being questioned, whatever the case – serious or minor, this stage of any criminal case is likely to be the most important. Every individual generally has the right to consult with a solicitor before they are formally questioned.

The role of the solicitor in a police station interview is to gather as much information about the investigation as is possible. This will allow for a discussion to take place in private between the solicitor and the client about what is being alleged and what the relevant legal issues may be. This assistance is as important as the formal interview as it will allow the client to gather their thoughts and not be taken by surprise when questioned. The solicitor will advise on the options available. Sometimes the advice might be to make ‘no comment’ to the questions. Everyone has the right to say nothing when questioned by the police. However, this option has to be considered carefully as the law allows a court to take into account a failure to answer questions and it may ultimately be used against the individual in any subsequent trial. These decisions involve consideration of complex legal and tactical issues that requires the assistance of an experienced criminal defence solicitor.

Our criminal defence solicitors have extensive experience in representing individuals at the police station, with a team dedicated to this work. The service is provided free of charge to individuals as the entitlement to free advice and assistance at the police station is provided through our contracts with the Legal Aid Agency. This covers both attendance for interview but also other stages in the investigation process including assistance in identification procedures.

If you have been charged by the police with a criminal offence or received a court summons (also called a ‘postal requisition’) through the post, call our specialist solicitors on 020 7924 8130. Alternatively email us at office@bbmlaw.co.uk and a member of the team will contact you directly.

The thought of attending court can be a nerve-wracking experience for most individuals, but our dedicated team of solicitors can be on hand to assist you every step of the way. Every criminal offence begins in the Magistrates’ Court, with 95% of cases being resolved at this level of court. The remaining more serious offences are committed to the Crown Court. At BBM, we have an experienced team of solicitors to guide you through the process.

Your case will be managed by one of the partners and they will be on hand to answer any queries you have about your case. If your case is sent to the Crown Court, we will also instruct a barrister to act on your behalf. We have strong links with many of the leading barrister’s chambers in the UK. Whatever the case or enquiry, our specialist team is ready to assist 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you have been charged or summonsed to court with an offence, contact us on 020 7924 8130 to see how we can work on your behalf to assist you at this most important time.

To be convicted of a crime you did not commit is a devastating experience, both for you and your family. Overturning that conviction is not easy.

Very few firms of solicitors have the experience and expertise to take you through the appeal process or, if an appeal has already been unsuccessful, an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Our specialist solicitors have a reputation for investigating suspect convictions, having cases referred to the Court of Appeal and for having convictions for serious offences overturned. Not every case can be appealed, but we try to give everyone a chance to have their appeal considered. To speak to a member of our appeals team call us on 020 7924 8130 or email office@bbmlaw.co.uk and we will contact you directly.

BBM has an experienced prison law department which is led by solicitor Brenda Quearney. We act for prisoners serving life sentences and IPP (imprisonment for public protection) sentences at parole hearings, as well as at extended sentence hearings and for lifers wishing to move to open conditions pre-tariff SIFT. We also act for prisoners serving both determinate and indeterminate sentences who have been recalled to prison.

For information on the types of prison law cases we deal with, please call us on 020 7924 8130 and speak to our prison law solicitor Brenda Quearney.

At BBM we believe that the criminal justice system should be readily accessible to everyone. We have a proud and extensive record of offering exceptional advice and assistance both to legally aided funded clients and privately funded clients.

Everyone has the fundamental right to free and independent legal advice at the police station irrespective of their income or means.

If you are charged or summonsed to appear in a Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court, you may be eligible for Legal Aid. This is the source of government funding available to people who would otherwise not be able to afford legal advice or representation in Court.

Legal Aid is means tested, which means that your finances will be assessed to decide whether you are eligible for Legal Aid. Even if you pass the means test, Legal Aid is only granted if it is deemed to be in the ‘interests of justice’. The more serious the charge, the more likely it is that you will qualify for legal aid.

If you are unsure of whether you qualify for Legal Aid, please contact us and we can go through the criteria with you. We will also assist you with completing the relevant application forms. If you are not eligible for Legal Aid, we offer extremely competitive private rates. Please feel free to contact us on 020 7924 8130 to discuss these.

Most of our services are supplied under the legal aid scheme. Legal aid is means tested, so to check whether you are eligible please see our Legal Aid section above.

If you are not eligible for legal aid, work can be undertaken on a fixed fee private paying basis. To find out more, please contact us.