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The Magistrate's Blog (2005-2012)

This blog has migrated to www.magistratesblog.blogspot.co.uk This blog is anonymous, and Bystander's views are his and his alone. Where his views differ from the letter of the law, he will enforce the letter of the law because that is what he has sworn to do. If you think that you can identify a particular case from one of the posts you are wrong. Enough facts are changed to preserve the truth of the tale but to disguise its exact source.

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Location: Near London, United Kingdom

The blog is written by a retired JP, with over 30 years' experience on the Bench.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

A Shot Across The Bows

Criminal defence solicitors are under pressure. Changes to Legal Aid over recent years have severely cut the income of many firms, and one response has been for more solicitors to qualify for Higher Rights of Audience, permitting them to appear in the Crown Court. This obviates the need to brief Counsel and keeps the available fees in-house (and has the side effect of making life very difficult for the junior Bar).
It's not all plain sailing though, as this judge makes clear.
(Thanks to the excellent Crime Line for the link)

http://parkingattendant.blogspot.com/http://www.crimeline.info/