Legal representation at the Crown Court

If your case is being tried at the Crown Court, it means the charges against you are serious and will require the expert services of an experienced criminal defence solicitor to advise you on how to get the best possible outcome for your case. Purcell Parker is one of the top law firms in Birmingham city centre and our highly experienced Crown Court department is headed by Spencer Stephens, a director in the firm. Our Crown Court Department also benefits from the in-house support of two accomplished and highly-regarded criminal barristers.

Purcell Parker’s criminal barristers

As one of the leading criminal defence firms in Birmingham, we offer the option to be represented in the Crown Court by an in-house criminal barrister. When it comes to criminal barristers, Birmingham is mainly served by barristers who work independently. As Purcell Parker’s criminal barristers work with our criminal solicitors in-house on an exclusive basis, you can be sure of effective communication and a proven solid working relationship between everyone who is involved in the defence of your case.

What is the difference between criminal barristers and criminal solicitors?

Criminal barristers are instantly recognisable in court because of their wigs and robes. When a criminal barrister is required, they will represent you in court by pleading your case to the judge on the advice of your solicitor whose role in this situation is to prepare your case, provide advice and produce all legal documents associated with it. Sometimes it will be appropriate for your case to be defended by one of our Higher Court Solicitor Advocates or outside counsel. Every case is unique and we will ensure your criminal defence involves the most suitable representation for your particular case.

What cases are tried at the Crown Court?

If you are accused of what’s known as an indictable-only crime like robbery, manslaughter or murder, your case will automatically be tried by jury at the Crown Court. If your case involves white collar investigations, your case could be tried at a Crown Court if the offence in question is considered serious enough. Sentencing for the most serious of driving offences can also take place at the Crown Court. Due to their severity, all Crown Court cases are tried by a jury. Crown court sentences can involve anything from community sentences to life sentences.

Financing Crown Court cases

If you are eligible, legal aid will cover all legal expenses associated with your trial at the Crown Court, including Very High-Cost Cases (VHCC). If you are required to pay for your case, for example, if you are a professional who needs the services of a business crime barrister, we may be able to provide you with a competitive fixed-rate quote for your case.

Effective administrative support for your criminal defence

Spencer Stephens leads a team of paralegals who specialise in dealing with all the serious criminal matters which are dealt with at the Crown Court. They will make sure that you are kept up-to-date with the progress of your case and that every aspect of it is fully prepared for your trial to avoid any stressful delays to proceedings. All Crown Court cases involve large amounts of paperwork, so making sure the administrative side of the case runs smoothly is crucial. We also deal with ancillary issues from Crown Court proceedings such as proceeds of crime applications, restrictive orders and appeals to the Court of Appeal.