Our roots lie in criminal defence and with many years of experience and a proven track record of success, you can rest easy knowing your case could not be in a safer pair of hands.
Excellent client care is at the heart of our success. As criminal defence lawyers, we understand that being involved in criminal proceedings can be a stressful time and our aim is to make the experience as painless as possible. We do this by making sure you have one person in charge of your case from beginning to end, taking the time to go through the evidence with you in detail, providing honest and clear advice every step of the way and having criminal law lawyers who are knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for our clients.
All of our criminal defence solicitors are fully qualified with a wealth of experience in dealing with a wide range of criminal matters from the most serious offences, such as murder, to more everyday offences, such as speeding.
As your chosen criminal law solicitors, we are here to protect your legal rights and ensure you receive the best possible advice and representation every step of the way.
We represent privately funded clients and those eligible for legal aid.
Call us today on 01442 242999 or email us at hello@wheldonlaw.co.uk for some free initial advice.
Conspiracy
Conspiracy is a grave offence and one that can only be heard in the crown court. If a person is convicted of conspiracy, they can usually expect to receive a substantial prison sentence, so it is vital to seek advice from an experienced criminal law solicitor at the first possible opportunity.
Criminal Damage
It is an offence under Section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 to damage or destroy property belonging to another, without reasonable excuse. For a person to be guilty of criminal damage they must cause the damage either deliberately or recklessly.
Drug Offences
Drug offences are treated by the courts with a high degree of seriousness and can attract substantial prison sentences. The level of severity and corresponding sentence will be determined by several factors.
Extradition
Extradition is the formal process for requesting the surrender of a person from one territory to another so that they can be prosecuted, sentenced or give effect to a sentence that has been passed.
Fraud
Fraud cases vary enormously from simple benefit frauds to complex investment scheme frauds. Many of them involve lengthy investigations, a high volume of documents and often involve computer equipment being seized for analysis which can be both distressing and inconvenient.
Firearms & Explosives
Firearms offences can be very serious and often carry heavy custodial sentences. If you are arrested on suspicion of a firearms offence, it is crucial to get expert legal advice from a trusted criminal law lawyer as soon as possible.
Football Law
For football fans, it is all too easy to find yourself caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Furthermore, due to previous incidents at stadiums, football fans are now subject to a variety of specific laws and the police take a robust approach to offences that occur at football matches.
GBH, ABH & Assault
Our criminal law solicitors can advise from the earliest stage in a range of cases from Grievous Bodily Harm, Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, Common Assault to resisting or wilfully obstructing a police officer from conducting their duties.
Murder & Manslaughter
If you are facing an allegation of murder or manslaughter, you should seek legal advice immediately and ideally before disclosing any information to the police or entering a plea in court.
Motoring Law
Our criminal defence lawyers have decades of experience protecting our client’s driving licences. We can provide you with advice and representation anywhere in England and Wales.
Proceeds of Crime
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) was introduced to prevent those found guilty of a crime from benefitting financially from that crime. Under this legislation, the courts have wide-ranging powers to confiscate assets acquired as a result of certain trigger offences ranging from drug offences to money laundering and fraud.
Public Order Offences
We have grouped several public order-type offences. Many of the offences sound very similar but vary enormously in terms of their seriousness and the court’s sentencing powers. If you are facing any of the offences set out on this page, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Sexual Offences
Most of our clients who find themselves charged with sexual offences have never been in trouble before and therefore come to us at a very difficult and challenging time of their life. We understand the pressure and stigma for those accused of sexual offences and the impact such allegations can have on their families.
Stalking & Harassment
An offence of harassment is if a person pursues a course of conduct (two or more incidents) which amounts to the harassment of another and that the individual knew or ought to have known would amount to the harassment of another.
Theft, Burglary & Robbery
A person is guilty of theft if they “dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.” Offences of theft are known as “either-way” offences, meaning they can be dealt with in either the magistrates’ or the crown court.
What Does a Criminal Law Solicitor Do?
Because of the diverse nature of the profession and how extensive criminal law is, no two days are ever the same as a criminal defence solicitor. But in a nutshell, our job is to advise and represent clients from the initial police investigation to the conclusion of the case, which may conclude with no further action being taken or could end up in the Court of Appeal.
There are two basic types of criminal law lawyers in the UK: the prosecutor and the criminal defence solicitor. The primary role of a prosecutor is to prepare cases for prosecution and then present them in court. On the other hand, the criminal defence lawyer advises and represents clients seeking to bring their case to the most successful conclusion, whether that be an acquittal or a more lenient sentence.
A criminal defence lawyer’s responsibilities vary, but their duties often include:
- Taking instructions and advising clients
- Representing clients at the police station and in court
- Assessing all the evidence in the case
- Taking witness statements
- Drafting defence documents
- Obtaining expert evidence
If you are suspected of involvement in a criminal offence, you should contact a criminal law lawyer as soon as possible, even before speaking to the police. Our role is to protect and advance your legal rights, and the support and advice of a criminal law specialist at an early stage can make a huge difference in terms of the outcome of your case.
At Wheldon Law, our criminal law solicitors can assist and represent you in every aspect of your criminal prosecution and legal proceedings. Whether you require representation in your police station interview or advocacy in court, you can count on our experience and expertise to guide and support you through the whole process in order to achieve the best possible outcome for you. With our many years of experience, our criminal law experts can assist you with any case from murder to speeding and everything in-between. Please call us on 01442 242999 or email us at hello@wheldonlaw.co.uk.
If you require the services of a highly experienced and trustworthy lawyer, criminal law experts from Wheldon Law can assist you in a wide variety of criminal cases, such as:
How Much Do Criminal Law Solicitors Cost in the UK?
It is difficult to determine the exact cost of hiring a criminal lawyer as it depends on several factors, such as the case’s complexity. It may also vary from one law firm to another. However, in most cases, the cost of seeking legal services may include:
- Fees for the time worked and services rendered by the solicitor
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Court and expert witness fees
- Disbursements
- Barrister fees if the case goes to trial
Note that solicitors may charge fees regardless of the outcome of the case. This means that even if you are found guilty, you will still need to pay your lawyer for their time and the legal services they provided.
Similar to a private lawyer, criminal law specialists may charge you in several ways. They are:
By the hour
By the hour is perhaps the most common way solicitors may charge their clients. Depending on how complex the case is and how long a client would require their services, criminal law solicitors would send bills either regularly or at the end of the legal proceedings.
Up-front retainer
Some lawyers may require their clients to pay upfront on a retainer basis. For example, they may ask you to pay 10 hours’ worth of their time before they can proceed with your case. Some solicitors use this payment scheme to ensure that the defendant can afford their services.
Fixed fee agreements
In fixed fee agreements, the solicitors would determine in advance how much a particular case would cost and then quote that amount for the required work. You will have to pay extra if the case requires more work than expected.
Contingency fee arrangements
In contingency fee arrangements or “no win no fee” agreements, you are not required to pay upfront fees to your solicitor if the case is unsuccessful.
Regardless of the manner in which your criminal law solicitor is charging you, both parties must set out and agree on the payment terms before commencing any work. Furthermore, your lawyer should be clear and transparent on how they will charge you to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstandings.
At Wheldon Law, we believe obtaining funding for criminal law cases should not further complicate a very stressful situation. This is why we made sure to provide a range of payment options to ensure our clients will receive reliable legal services regardless of their needs and budget.
Moreover, we hold a contract with the Legal Aid Agency. This enables us to represent clients eligible for legal aid. If you have questions about funding your case, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Find Criminal Lawyers You Can Trust
With a team of knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated criminal defence solicitors and a solid track record for success, we at Wheldon Law are confident in our ability to build a defence strategy that will help you obtain the best outcome for your case. If you require the assistance of lawyers specialising in criminal law, you may call us at 01442 242999 or email us at hello@wheldonlaw.co.uk to receive free initial advice.