What we do
Bowden Jones Solicitors has been awarded a Criminal Franchise by the Legal Aid Agency which enables us to undertake all aspects of Legal Aid work in addition to our ability to represent our private and corporate clients.
We also have considerable experience in dealing with all Prison Law matters.
Services Details from Bowden Jones Solicitors
24 Hour Emergency Service
We offer a 24 hour emergency service and are committed to providing access to justice for every client that we represent.
Contact our Criminal Defence Solicitors Team for a consultation on 02920 484550 or email us at [email protected]
Advice at the Police Station
Pre-Charge Engagement
Magistrates Court
Crown Court
Prison Law
Competitive fixed price service
Bowden Jones offers a competitive fixed price service, for hearings in the Magistrates Courts and Crown Courts.
To discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact us. Bowden Jones offers a fee of £250 plus VAT for any half day single hearing cases in the Magistrates Court and £500 plus VAT for full day hearings.
Pricing Summary
Pricing of Summary Only Road Traffic Offences
With regard to motoring offences, we feel that most clients much prefer a fixed fee structure of pricing.
We are therefore able to provide you with some examples of the fixed fees charged for more routine work.
Every matter is different, and some may not fit directly into the examples below.
If this is the case, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will gladly sit down with you and discuss what work is required and the likely cost.
Speeding offences / Drug/Drink Driving / Driving with no licence and insurance
These offences can often lead to a sentence which involves a potential disqualification from driving. We charge £250 plus VAT for all half day hearings and £500 plus VAT for all full day hearings.
In relation to all speeding offences, we quote £250 plus VAT which includes an initial attendance on you and the conduct of a single hearing in the Magistrates Court, whether this be a half day or single day.
In some circumstances there may be an argument of either special reasons or exceptional hardship, which can be advanced to avoid a disqualification from driving.
The fixed fee does not include this argument, but we would be more than willing to quote a fee, this would be dependent on the work required to prepare for the hearing, such as interviewing witnesses, instructing expert witnesses and visits to the scene.
Key Stages
The following key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you will be entering a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing
- Meet with one of our solicitors to provide instructions on what happened.
- We will obtain and consider the initial disclosure plus any other evidence required.
- Arrange to take witness statements if necessary (additional cost of £100 per statement at our office. Statements taken outside our office will incur additional costs).
- We will explain the court procedure so that you know what to expect on the day of your hearing and the sentencing options available to the court.
- We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up questions you may have.
- We will attend court on the day of your hearing and meet with you before going into court. Most matters are dealt with in half a day.
- We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice on appeal is required this will carry an additional cost.
There will be occasions when a case cannot be resolved at the first hearing. This might be because the case needs to be adjourned for legal argument on sentencing or for a Trial. In which case your availability will be consulted, and that adjournment should not be more than 28 days after the first hearing. Occasionally cases cannot proceed and are adjourned administratively, when this applies, we will not charge a fee for a hearing, the charge would only apply for any standard hearing conducted in court, when your case progresses. We will of course keep you fully informed, at all times, of the progress of your case.
VAT/Disbursements
This is charged at 20% in addition to our bill. There may be a need to incur additional cost by way of disbursements. They will only be incurred with your specific approval. There are some disbursements that are subject to VAT and some that are not, we will always notify you of any potential disbursements and ensure that alternative quotes are available, where applicable.
No. You are entitled to free legal advice when being questions about an alleged offence by the Police regardless of your means.
The Police can search your premises if they have a warrant that has been issued by the Magistrates Court. The Police can also lawfully search premises where a person has been arrested and where a Police Inspector is of the view that there are grounds to believe that items relevant to the offence under investigation, or do any other offence, might be found.
No, quite the opposite, our team will positively and proactively deal with your case. We will ensure that we regularly liaise with the investigation team and make representations to them to secure no charges being brought against you. You will remain at the core of this approach.