Finding a good criminal solicitor for false allegations?

[crisismode]

DS has just found out that bail was renewed a few weeks ago and the meeting scheduled for today is cancelled. He was not informed - police say they told his solicitor. It appears this is the solicitor assigned as duty solicitor when he was arrested. The solicitor has not been in contact to let him know any of this.

We need to find him a new solicitor (one who actually communicated with him!).

How do you find a decent solicitor? I do not know anyone I can ask for recommendations as this is obviously a tricky situation that I don't want to advertise to the rest of the world!

Do you have funds?

If necessary, yes.

Well yes, it’s going to be necessary

so I’d go on local FB groups and ask for recommendations

can’t beat a local recommendation

and perhaps your son should be be much more in contacting his solicitor to regularly ask for updates

It will be a lot op. Brace yourself

Not sure what you mean by “if necessary” you have funds? If you do not want to continue with the duty s

Apologies posted too soon- if you do not wish to continue with the duty solicitor (which is free) then you’re going to have to pay for your solicitor.

Have a look at local ones, look for the best, read reviews, get in touch and have initial chat.

But be prepared to pay, for a good criminal defence solicitor you’re easily looking at £350-500 per hour.

Go back to the duty initially and find out more- they won't necessarily have been informed by the police despite what they told you, in my experience endless chasing is required to get this info. Duty sols are generally from experienced firms who do this work every day. You won't necessarily get a better, more knowledgeable service for £££- you'll either get someone who doesn't do this kind of work regularly, or you'll get another local duty firm who weren't on the rota that day.

Thanks everyone.

@CelticPromise this is my quandary. He is 18 and still at school so I think he would get legal aid, but not entirely sure - is he treated as an individual or would he be assessed on household income? So much I need to learn.... Happy to pay if this is what we need to do, just don't want to pay for someone who is actually no better!

The police forwarded the email they sent to the solicitor regarding bail so we know it went to them. But they don't answer the phone or reply to emails. DS has been emailing and calling regularly, both the police and solicitor ignore any contact and don't reply. This is very much outside of our experience and knowledge....

To back up what @CelticPromise said, the duty solicitor will have been the rota solicitor for the day, and will be from a local firm. There is nothing "less than" about duty - in fact it is an additional qualification and should assure you that they do that work regularly. When I did that role (and I'm still in the same area, just a slightly different role) I didn't distinguish between duty cases and "own client" cases (ie those who asked for me specifically) and gave all clients the same high level of service.

It isn't ok to ignore you - they won't always be able to answer immediately as the nature of the job means police stations and court for most of the working day - but concerns should be answered. I would forward the email you've been given and ask about next steps. Depending on firm size they may have a generic email (like [email protected]) to copy in which might get an answer faster.

Personally I wouldn't go looking to spend a fortune on private representation as you may end up with someone less experienced, as ludicrous as that may sound.

@hotlava273 Thank you for your insight. That is the position we took initially, but unfortunately the last few months we have had very little response to any communication. I understand that immediate response is unlikely but no response at all is difficult. I understand what you mean about the level of experience, but currently someone who actually communicated with us is better than someone who makes things worse.

has his solicitor given any indication at all of likely outcome?

How did he find out meeting today was cancelled?

@Rememberthis81 no. Had no contact with the solicitor other than during arrest.

Who told him meeting cancelled?

Is he heading off to uni come September?

@Rememberthis81 after several emails and calls (including to their line manager) the investigating officer forwarded an email sent a couple of weeks ago to the solicitor, which said bail had been renewed and the meeting cancelled.

He was planning Uni in the autumn, but cannot move forward with anything really until this is resolved. So currently planning to take some time out. Hopefully he will be able to defer Uni place, assuming he actually gets through A-levels given the huge amount of stress this is causing.

So he called in today to confirm the meeting? Or he actually turned up in person?

is it just him? Or a friend too?

Is he on the midst of a levels? Do his school know?

OP, any update?

No update - bail was renewed but otherwise not heard anything. We now have a new solicitor who seems much more on the ball and has expressed some reservations about the conduct of the investigating officer. Once this is all over we may need to complain....

Will he be heading off to uni in September still?

No

How is he spending his days? Has the new solicitor given any indication as to timeless?

his friend also charged…, is he In same boat?

This must be very stressful @crisismode
how are things now?

Facebook - ask for recommendations on your local group - do a name change if you want to be discreet.
Legal aid solicitor representation can be a bit of a lottery. The new solicitor can arrange for transfer of the legal aid certificate if you explain you have lost faith in the one you currently have.