![]() We are often asked: ‘are duty solicitors any good?’ Firstly, it is important to outline that duty solicitors are duty bound to provide independent legal advice. Are duty solicitors any good and should I use one? They will then contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC) on your behalf.Īs an alternative to requesting a duty solicitor or requesting legal advice from the (DSCC), you also have the opportunity of telling the police that you would like legal representation from a solicitor of your choosing. You can also tell the police that you would simply like legal advice. They will be available to represent you 24 hours a day and will be independent of the police. Here, you can ask for the police station’s ‘duty solicitor’. The police must also inform you of your right to free legal advice when you are arrested and before you are questioned at the police station. ![]() This is the first point at which you can request the services of a duty solicitor. You always have the right to free legal advice if you are brought into a police station for questioning. This means, under the duty solicitor scheme, that they do not charge a fee for the legal advice and representation they provide. Are duty solicitors in the UK free?ĭuty solicitors in the UK are paid by the Legal Services Commission, the government body that administers legal aid. To become registered on the duty solicitor scheme, a solicitor needs to have undertaken at least 12 Magistrates’ Court hearings, at least 12 police station attendances, and a further 12 hearings or attendances that could be a combination of Crown Court hearings, Magistrates’ Court hearings or Magistrates’ Court duty slots. The duty solicitor scheme contains the official rotas, information and guidance relating to registered duty solicitors in the UK. It is important to note that you do not need to remain with a duty solicitor for the duration of a case if you are not happy with the service they have provided. It may be the case that the duty solicitor assigned is an experienced solicitor from a well-regarded firm, simply a police station representative, or a paralegal with little experience. ![]() The fact that duty solicitors are assigned according to a rota means that the precise quality of the legal representative you could receive will vary. Duty solicitors can also attend the Magistrates’ Court.ĭuty solicitors come from private criminal defence firms that are on the Legal Aid Agency’s list, with those firms attending police stations according to a rota. They are able to attend the police station to represent you if you have been arrested or provide telephone advice as opposed to attending in person. ![]() So, what is a duty solicitor? Simply put, they are independent criminal defence solicitors from a local law firm who can assist with defending someone who is suspected or accused of committing a crime. Here, we discuss exactly what duty solicitors do, how the duty solicitor scheme works in the UK, and whether you should use a duty solicitor or private solicitor if you are accused of a criminal offence. We are often asked what the difference between using a private solicitor and a duty solicitor is and whether the advice you receive from both will differ. This can come in the form of representation from a private criminal defence solicitor of your choice or a duty solicitor. No matter what your circumstances may be or what criminal offence you may be accused of, you will always be entitled to receive legal representation.
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