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A lawyer works for you. The Police are not working for you. Sometimes cooperation is in your best interests. However clients can inadvertently incriminate themselves. A simple admission that you were in the vicinity of a crime scene, or providing your cell phone number can be used as evidence against you. There are numerous cases where an innocent person’s police statement has been used to convict them. The safest advice is to speak to a lawyer. Often there is no cost for the first discussion with a lawyer.
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You should look for a lawyer who is experienced with your type of case. A lawyer who has proven success and a lawyer who you feel comfortable with. A good lawyer will meet with potential clients to make sure they are they are right for the job. A good lawyer will explain the costs, and explain the level of expertise that they bring to a case.
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You can apply for name suppression including suppression of any details that will identify you. The application will need to be supported by evidence and legal submissions. A lawyer experienced in name suppression is required. The Police and media may push strongly for your name to be published.
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The costs depend on how much work the lawyer does on your case. Normally the more serious the charge the more work will be required. Some clients want to avoid any conviction and therefore want a lawyer to spend a large amount of time on even a relatively minor charge.
Most lawyers charge on an hourly basis. A junior lawyer may charge between $150-$250 per hour, an intermediate lawyer $250-$350 and a senior lawyer between $300 and $500. Senior commercial lawyers and QCs may sometimes charge in excess of $500 an hour.
Our senior barristers charge between $350 and $400 per hour. Our intermediate barrister at $270.
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You may be eligible for legal aid and if your case is serious you may be allowed to choose your lawyer. Please contact us to discuss legal aid for serious cases and appeals.
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Cases typically take between six months and two years to go through the court systems. An appeal normally takes between three and nine months.
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Yes, if the defendant is in custody then we can meet with family members or other supporters to begin working on the case. We can then arrange to interview the client at prison or via a video link to the prison.