Appealing a Crown Court conviction is not something many people will ever have to consider.
Clients and their families often go into Crown Court trials with blind optimism thinking everything will be fine. This is often because their legal team have done little to prepare them for the reality of a criminal trial.
The result of being poorly prepared is often a conviction, prison sentence, and a family with no idea what to do next or how to help their loved one.
Finding a specialist to help in appealing a Crown Court Conviction is the first step in the right direction.
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Trying to overturn a conviction can feel like an impossible job
When people convicted of serious offences search for answers they are often met with silence. The trial solicitors may have closed their file and told the client they have no grounds to appeal, and that this is the end of the road.
Knowing where to turn after a life-changing event, without having the knowhow to solve it, can be overwhelming. On top of this, families of defendants are grieving the loss of a loved one. This can increase the sense of being burned by the injustice of it all. It often falls to them to pick themselves up and search for answers.
Taking the first step to finding specialist support can be confusing, with the internet full of what seems like conflicting information or even false promises.
The system is set up to make it hard for people to appeal
The right to appeal what often feels like the wrongful conviction is surprisingly not automatic. This is because the justice system relies on juries making the right decisions based on the evidence presented in court.
The law can be confusing. Being a lawyer is a specialist job, but being a lawyer who can also explain the law to clients and their families in a straightforward way is even more specialised. Unfortunately, many people convicted at the Crown Court haven't had the benefit of clear legal advice. The result is often families and clients ending up in extraordinary positions without knowing what went wrong. The fact they don't fully understand how they got there can make it hard to find the right people to help.
Understanding the process is the first step
Getting the right advice from specialist appeal solicitors can relieve some of the strain on family members.
Good appeal lawyers will listen to you. Simply being able to express frustrations, fears, and anger can feel like a huge leap forward.
The process of trying to appeal a Crown Court conviction is hard. You don't need false promises or suggestions that the process is easy. You need an honest appraisal of the situation.
Simply being treated with respect can make a massive difference to your ability to deal with the process.
We work hard to make sure every possible avenue is explored.
We do the listening so we can understand what you or your family member have been through and what has gone wrong.
We put together a dedicated team, including a top appeals barrister, to find a solution to the problem.
Our specialist lawyers are experts on the highly technical and often confusing legal barriers to appealing a conviction. They also know how to break them down in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Having the necessary knowledge helps you to take control of your own case.
If your family member is in custody, we ensure that we visit them and provide regular updates. The most critical person in the team needs to be listened to from the outset and understand that they are fundamental to achieving a successful outcome.
What steps can I take now to start the appeal process?
Get a good firm of specialist appeal solicitors to represent you or the family member you're helping.
Call us to talk about what's going on. We're happy to talk to you and see if we can help. We'll at least try to answer some of your questions. If we can't help, we'll be honest and try to give you some pointers on what to do next.
Try to avoid using Google to try and find all the answers to complex legal questions. This can end up creating more stress and confusion.
Start making notes about the trial. Pick out key events that you think went wrong. Even if they aren't things that help any potential appeal they will help your lawyers to understand the case.
No-tricks fixed-fee pricing
We can usually offer a fixed fee instalment plan so you can plan for the expense, and so you can fund your case in stages while it is continuing.
Private representation
Once we have an idea of what kind of case you are facing and what work that will be necessary, we will then be able to provide you with a fixed fee quote. This means that you know before you commit how much your case will cost.
What's included?
Frequently asked questions
How Long Does the Process Take?
Appealing a conviction or sentence from the Crown Court can take a long time. There are many variables at play but the most important one is the Court of Appeal which gives priority to defendants with the least amount of prison time left to serve.
Can the Court of Appeal Increase My Sentence?
This is very unlikely indeed. The court only has the power to order a defendant to restart all or part of their sentence if they believe that the appeal has been pursued despite it having no merit. This power is not often used, and hardly ever if the barrister has signed the appeal application.
Can I Get Legal Aid?
That sad reality is that the government has slashed Legal Aid rates over the past 20 years and there has never been proper funding for appeals done by a new legal team. More often than not the only option is to pool resources and fund the case privately.
How much does it cost to appeal a Crown Court conviction?
The reality is that these cases are expensive. Solicitors and barristers have to be paid, all the papers read, all the court transcripts obtained and read, and the previous solicitors' file considered. There is often more work involved in trying to fix the problem at the second attempt.
As a rough guide, the minimum cost for appealing a conviction is £40,000 + vat while appealing a sentence alone starts at £15,000 + vat. Each case is assessed individually so these figures are only intended as a guide.
Can you guarantee I will be able to appeal my conviction
Even if we ultimately have to tell a client and their family that there are no grounds to appeal they know we have left no stone left unturned.
Send us a confidential message
We'll get back to you as soon as possible. We are happy to speak to you if you have a query, and either have a free consultation on the phone or in person if necessary.