Yes £2400 is very steep. Maybe you could question this with them?Yes my solicitor has gone through things with me regarding court, bit annoyed with myself for not finding this site sooner, I have paid £2400 upfront to them and after reading info on here I've probably wasted most of that but we live and learn.
I don't know, I panicked I think when it happened, thought I was getting jail, if I'd looked for this forum first I wouldn't have bothered so much. Geoffrey Miller Solicitors it was.What have they done to justify £2400? That is in to not guilty case preparation territory, certainly not
Representation for a Guilty Plea!!!!!!
What did they say they would do for you for that money?
Hi, who was your insurance with and did they come after you for third party costs etc?Hi Colin
The guidelines stated will be where you will be sentenced.
I was in a similar position 12 months ago and had quite a bad collision (head on), luckily no serious injuries, blew 69.
I was sentanced to a 18 month ban, like you i was scared of prison and a solicitor put my mind at ease, representing me for just over £300.
Some great advice and examples on this wonderful forum.
Hi similar situation.. my lawyer charged 1200 and when we come across this forum I did question them and they sent me a sheet with cost breakdown confirming thst they managed to spend 80% of that 1200 in 48hrs.... pointless at that stage to fight... but 2400 that is steep!!!I don't know, I panicked I think when it happened, thought I was getting jail, if I'd looked for this forum first I wouldn't have bothered so much. Geoffrey Miller Solicitors it was.
Hi similar situation.. my lawyer charged 1200 and when we come across this forum I did question them and they sent me a sheet with cost breakdown confirming thst they managed to spend 80% of that 1200 in 48hrs.... pointless at that stage to fight... but 2400 that is steep!!!
Yes got 3 very good character references, one from employer, no driving involved in my employment, plus a letter of apology from myself expressing remorse and so on, as previously stated I've paid £2400 for a guilty plea I'm an idiot I know!! But I was an idiot to get in my car that so lesson learnt, let's hope my solicitor performs.You are only charged with drink driving, I don‘t think at all that the CPS will add another charge on the day.
What will happen is you will be asked to plead to drink driving, and you say “guilty.”
Then the CPS will outline the case, probably saying that the other driver says you went through a red light.
There will be no “further statements”, just the case being outlined verbally by the CPS prosecutor.
Your solicitor will then speak, outline your circumstances but strongly refute the claim that you went through a red light.
The magistrates will consider what to do with you. Their range is between 17-22 months.
If the solicitor has done a good job of sowing doubt about the red light, and impressed them about your character (have you got written character references to hand in?) then it will be 18-20.
If the magistrates feel that you probably did go through a red light, it will probably be 20-22 months.
Get your solicitor to ask for the Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course if the magistrates do not offer it. This has to be done before the case is finished in court, it cannot be done afterwards. This will reduce your ban by up to 25% if you complete it.
Price 1367, your guidance especially, and huge thanks to everyone else has been invaluable in keeping me sane, and I can't thank you all enough. For anyone else reading this I paid £2400 for a guilty plea which is nearly as stupid as driving my car on the night, I got a great result in my opinion but my solicitor didn't do anything out of the ordinary. Price 1367 undoubtedly knows what he is talking about so listen to him.A decent, if expensive, result!
Yes, definitely, ruined my perfect record. Expensive and gonna be a nightmare but we reap what we sow, won't be making the same mistake again. Thanks everyone.Must beike a massive weight lifted.
Best possible outcome by the sound of things.
Totally agree, I won't be in this position again so please please everyone do not pay 2k + for a guilty plea.Phewwwww all over... surely there should be a independent body that looks at lawyers cost vs effort etc... so much focus on compliance, treating customer fairly when it comes to insurance etc but nothing on lawyers... I totally understand if things goes trial then it becomes very specific situation I.e costs too but for a standard guilty plea surely it can be a standard within a tolerance..