Do I need a solicitor for a police interview?

GOV.UK says you have the right to free legal advice if police question you at a station. You may turn the advice down, although you can change your mind later. Therefore, declining at first does not end that right. However, GOV.UK is the place to check the exact wording of the right before you attend.

How do I ask for a duty solicitor?

GOV.UK says there are three routes. You can ask for the police station's duty solicitor, who is independent of the police and available 24 hours a day. You can tell the police you want legal advice, so they contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre. Or you can ask the police to contact a solicitor of your choice, such as your own.

Is legal advice at the police station free?

GOV.UK says legal advice at a police station is free, and it is known as legal aid. You may turn it down, although you can change your mind later. Turning it down at first is therefore not final, since the choice stays with you. If you are unsure how it works, GOV.UK sets out the right in full.

Can I get legal aid if I am charged with a crime?

Possibly. GOV.UK says that if you are charged or have to go to court, a solicitor will check whether you qualify for legal aid. Some people get it for court representation automatically, such as those under 16, those under 18 in full-time education, or people on certain benefits. Ask the solicitor early, because eligibility depends on your own circumstances.

Can I get advice by phone instead of a duty solicitor?

Sometimes. GOV.UK says you may be offered legal advice over the phone instead of a duty solicitor if you are suspected of a less serious offence, such as being disorderly. That advice is free and independent of the police. If you would still prefer a solicitor in person, you can say so and ask what the police can arrange.

What does the Criminal Litigation Accreditation mean?

It is a Law Society quality mark. It shows that solicitors have committed to a high standard of service in criminal law. A logo is not proof on its own, however. Look for the mark on a firm's website, printed material or offices, and use the "accredited specialists only" box in Find a Solicitor as a second check.

Criminal defence in London

A long empty corridor with tall windows along one side and wooden benches against the wall

At a glance

Police station advice: GOV.UK says you have the right to free legal advice (legal aid) if you are questioned at a police station, and you can change your mind later if you turn it down.
Duty solicitor: GOV.UK says you can ask for the police station's duty solicitor, tell the police you want legal advice so they contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre, or ask the police to contact a solicitor such as your own.
Questioning: GOV.UK says that once you have asked for legal advice the police cannot question you until you have got it, with some exceptions.
Quality mark: The Law Society Criminal Litigation Accreditation is a quality mark showing solicitors have committed to a high standard of service in criminal law.

What criminal defence covers

If the police have questioned you, or you face a charge, you need to know where to turn. Criminal defence is the legal help given to someone suspected or accused of a crime. It can start at the police station, and it can continue through a case in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

Because the stakes can be high, know what to ask before you speak to a firm. However, a good first step is to learn how the system works. This page explains the help available, how fees and legal aid fit in, and how to check who you are dealing with.

Free advice at the police station

GOV.UK says you have the right to free legal advice, called legal aid, if you are questioned at a police station. You can change your mind later if you turn it down. Therefore, saying no at first does not close the door.

There are three ways to ask, according to GOV.UK. You can ask for the police station’s duty solicitor, who is available 24 hours a day and independent of the police. You can tell the police you want legal advice, so they contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre. You can also ask the police to contact a solicitor, such as your own.

For a less serious offence, such as being disorderly, you may be offered advice over the phone instead of a duty solicitor. GOV.UK says that advice is free and independent of the police.

Once you have asked for legal advice, the police cannot question you until you have got it, with some exceptions. For more on what to expect, read our guide on what happens if a solicitor attends a police interview.

Legal aid if you are charged

Charges bring a new question, which is how to pay for representation. GOV.UK says there is a different way to get legal aid if you have been arrested or charged with a crime. If you are charged or have to go to court, a solicitor will check whether you qualify.

However, some people get legal aid for representation in court automatically. GOV.UK says this applies if you are under 16, under 18 and in full-time education, or on certain benefits.

Some legal aid cases are not subject to the financial tests. GOV.UK gives examples such as children in care proceedings, mental health tribunals and cross-border child abduction. However, higher earners may still qualify in domestic abuse or forced marriage cases. Each of these cases is an exception to the usual financial tests.

Fees for criminal work

We give no prices here, because costs depend on the case and the firm. The SRA Transparency Rules do cover one kind of crime-related work. This is advice and representation at the Magistrates Court for summary-only road traffic offences dealt with at a single hearing.

Other criminal defence work is not on the price-publication list. Therefore, a firm may not show a price online for a more serious matter. In that case, ask the firm to explain its charges clearly before you agree to anything.

Quality marks to look for

The Law Society Criminal Litigation Accreditation is a quality mark. It shows that solicitors have committed to a high standard of service in criminal law.

To check a mark, look for the quality mark logos on a firm’s website, printed material or offices. The Law Society also says you can filter Find a Solicitor results by ticking the “accredited specialists only” box. Since a logo alone is not proof, use that filter as a second check. A search for a criminal solicitor London firm can then be narrowed to accredited ones.

London criminal courts

The court for your case varies with the case itself, so we do not say which court serves which borough. The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) is at Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EH, and deals with crime. Southwark Crown Court is at 1 English Grounds (off Battlebridge Lane), Southwark SE1 2HU, while Inner London Crown Court is at Sessions House, Newington Causeway, London SE1 6AZ. Snaresbrook Crown Court is at 75 Hollybush Hill, Snaresbrook E11 1QW, and Wood Green Crown Court is at Woodall House, Lordship Lane, Wood Green N22 5LF.

The magistrates’ courts we hold are these. Westminster Magistrates’ Court is at 181 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5BR. Thames Magistrates’ Court is at 58 Bow Road, London E3 4DJ. Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court is at 51 Holloway Road, London N7 8JA. Hendon Magistrates’ Court is at The Court House, The Hyde, Hendon NW9 7BY.

However, this is not a full list. The Find a Court or Tribunal service on GOV.UK gives each court or tribunal’s address, opening times, what it handles and contact details.

Questions to ask a criminal defence solicitor

A clear first conversation helps, because you may be anxious and short of time. Ask whether you can get legal aid, and what it would cover. Ask how the firm charges if legal aid does not apply, and request the likely total in writing.

Next, ask who will attend with you, since it may be a colleague rather than the person you first speak to. Ask how and how often the firm will tell you about progress. For example, agree whether updates will come by phone or in writing.

Finding a criminal defence solicitor in your borough

Each borough page explains where to look and how to check a firm. Pick the borough where you live, because the details differ between areas. However, the same regulation checks apply to every firm that you find.

You can read our guides for Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Wandsworth, Camden and Westminster. While you read, keep the check a solicitor page open. It shows how to confirm that any firm you find is regulated before you instruct it.