justmanutd
New Member
Hi
I have just been convicted of DR30 Failure to Provide a Specimen for analysis. This is my third offence in 12 years and second in 10 years. The Magistrate said "I am seriously considering custody". Due to a shockingly long wait to find out if i was entitled to legal aid (application took 1 month to get rejected and got rejected yesterday) I ended up in court this morning without a solicitor and unable to use the services of the duty solicitor because I had made an application for legal aid with another solicitor.
In two weeks time I will be sentenced for this offence, and I need to stay out of prison. What can I do to make a custodial sentence less likely?.
As I made an application with a particular solicitor would I have to pay them to represent me at the sentencing or would I be able to use another solicitor/barrister ? The reason I ask this is that I am a long way from satisfied about how my legal aid application was handled would feel more comfortable with another firm.
What would be a reasonable fee to to pay for representation at sentencing? as I have already pleaded guilty I would expect this to be less than the prices i see advertised for guilty pleas.
Any help and advice would be very much appreciated. I have a very big event taking place 2 weeks after this sentencing and a custodial sentence would be devastating!!
I have just been convicted of DR30 Failure to Provide a Specimen for analysis. This is my third offence in 12 years and second in 10 years. The Magistrate said "I am seriously considering custody". Due to a shockingly long wait to find out if i was entitled to legal aid (application took 1 month to get rejected and got rejected yesterday) I ended up in court this morning without a solicitor and unable to use the services of the duty solicitor because I had made an application for legal aid with another solicitor.
In two weeks time I will be sentenced for this offence, and I need to stay out of prison. What can I do to make a custodial sentence less likely?.
As I made an application with a particular solicitor would I have to pay them to represent me at the sentencing or would I be able to use another solicitor/barrister ? The reason I ask this is that I am a long way from satisfied about how my legal aid application was handled would feel more comfortable with another firm.
What would be a reasonable fee to to pay for representation at sentencing? as I have already pleaded guilty I would expect this to be less than the prices i see advertised for guilty pleas.
Any help and advice would be very much appreciated. I have a very big event taking place 2 weeks after this sentencing and a custodial sentence would be devastating!!