Should your friend require a Solicitor it is important to instruct one as early as possible. Drink Driving law is a highly specialised area of law. As such, she is best to seek the services of an expert motoring lawyer in order to maximise her prospects of achieving the best result. This is particularly so if a ban would result in her losing her job.
A conviction would also be a criminal one. Whilst she may be able to use a duty solicitor at Court, their services are not guaranteed. Furthermore, if she is lucky enough to speak to one she may only get 5 - 10 minutes at most and you will have no control over the skill or expertise of the duty solicitor at Court that day.
Your friend will only be eligible for legal aid if she passes stringent criteria. An application would need to be made to a legal aid Solicitor, who is local to the Court. Your friend will not have the choice of Solicitor within the practice that she approaches and she will not be able to choose how experienced the advocate is.
In the past we have had cases moved for client's convenience if client's plead guilty and I am sure that we would ask the Court to do so the same for your friend.
We offer representation for a fixed fee so that there is certainty of pricing. We are motoring solicitors and offer a complete servic, often at very short notice.
If you require our assistance please do not hesitate to telephone us.