I have represented such a wide spectrum of clients, which I have found extremely rewarding.
Instructing a Barrister
The legal profession in England and Wales is divided into two separate categories of qualified lawyers: barristers and solicitors.
When faced with a legal problem, clients generally first instruct a solicitor who will advise them accordingly and deal with every step of case preparation. Should the client’s case advance to trial or involve a particularly complex issue, the solicitor will usually instruct a barrister. A barrister is a specialist court advocate, usually with particular expertise in a given area. Ms Grudzinska’s expertise is in criminal, extradition and road traffic law. Her role is to provide specialist advice and advocacy at all levels of courts.
Ms Grudzinska accepts instructions from various solicitors. She has close links with excellent Polish solicitors with whom she has worked over many years and who she can recommend.
Direct Access
There are certain circumstances in which a barrister can accept instructions directly from members of the public.
However barristers must be specially qualified to be allowed to do so.
Ms Grudzinska is a Direct Access qualified barrister and therefore may accept instructions directly from members of the public. She is also qualified to conduct litigation for members of the public.
Whilst Ms Grudzinska is able to accept instructions on a Direct Access basis, this will be dependent on the nature of the case and will be assessed on a case by case basis. The more complex the case, the more likely that Ms Grudzinska will suggest conducting your case alongside a solicitor.
Ms Grudzinska will always be guided in what she believes will be in the client’s best interests when assessing whether to take on a case on a Direct Access basis.
Extradition full hearings relating to relatively straightforward arguments can be listed four to six weeks after the initial hearing; some can even be listed as soon as one or two weeks after the initial hearing. The prosecuting authority can, sometimes, serve further evidence at short notice. The court will also set directions to serve evidence by a given date which must be complied with. Further, there are very strict appeal time limits which much be complied with in extradition cases. It is, therefore, important to contact Ms Grudzinska as soon as possible after the initial hearing so that there is plenty of time to properly prepare your case and to ensure Ms Grudzinska’s availability.
Magistrates Court trials can be listed six to eight weeks after the first appearance. It is vital that instructions are given well in advance to ensure that all relevant legal issues are identified in time and that any potential defence witnesses are identified and their statements prepared. There may be a multitude of issues that could arise at any time and it is always sensible to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Crown Court trials are normally listed a few months (even a year) after the first appearance in the Crown Court if the client is on bail. It is still important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. There may be applications that can be made well in advance of trial. In more complex cases there may be a larger volume of material which would need to be considered well in advance.
In order to put yourselves in the best position it is important to seek legal advice as early as possible.
Timescales and Guidance
When discussing a client’s case and before accepting instructions, it is important to take into account barrister’s timescales. The following factors may influence those timescales:
- Barrister’s availability;
- The availability of the client or relevant third parties;
- The complexity of the case;
- The amount of papers a barrister needs to review;
- The need for additional information or documents;
- The approach taken by the other side;
- Third parties intervening in the case; and
- Court waiting times.