Choosing a criminal defence solicitor in Norfolk

Choosing a solicitor when you're in trouble is hard. You're stressed, you're under time pressure, and you may have never instructed a lawyer before. Here's how to think about it.

Specialism matters

Criminal law is a specialism. A solicitor who is brilliant at conveyancing is not the right choice for a Crown Court trial. When you ring around, ask directly:

• What proportion of your practice is criminal defence?
• Are you on the duty solicitor scheme? (Required for any serious criminal-defence work)
• Will you personally be handling my case, or will it be passed to another fee-earner?

Seniority matters

A senior solicitor with 25 years' experience reading your case will spot things a junior solicitor a year out of qualification will not. In small-firm practices you get direct senior attention. In big firms you often don't.

Ask:

• How long have you personally been doing criminal defence?
• Have you handled cases like mine before?
• Who will represent me at court — you, or counsel?

Availability matters

Criminal cases don't happen 9-to-5. Arrests happen at night. Custody clocks tick on weekends. A solicitor who isn't reachable when you need them is no use to you.

Ask:

• What's your out-of-hours number?
• Who covers if you're unavailable?
• What's your typical response time at the police station?

Cost transparency matters

A good solicitor will give you a clear answer about cost up front, including:

• Whether you qualify for Legal Aid
• Fixed-fee options for predictable matters
• An hourly rate and an estimate of likely total cost if not fixed
• What's included and what counts as an "extra"

Be wary of:

• Vague "depends on the work involved" answers with no estimate
• High up-front retainers without clear billing
• Solicitors who can't (or won't) discuss costs at the first call

Communication style matters

You will be working closely with this person, often through some of the most stressful months of your life. Trust your instincts:

• Did they listen, or did they talk over you?
• Did they explain things in plain English?
• Were they honest about weaknesses in your case?
• Did they pressure you to make a decision immediately, or did they let you think?

Practical checks

• SRA Registered: every solicitor in England and Wales must be authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Search solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk.
• Legal Aid contract: required for Legal Aid work. Visit gov.uk/find-a-legal-adviser.
• Quality marks: the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) and Lexcel are independent quality standards.
• Reviews: Google reviews, Trustpilot — read several, look for patterns.

A final word

The cheapest solicitor is almost never the best value. The most expensive solicitor is not necessarily either. What you want is the right specialist for your situation, who will tell you the truth and who you can reach when you need them.

If you'd like to talk through your situation with Lucy before you decide, the first 15 minutes are free and confidential. Book online, or call any time.