Getting the right representation for your case

We have set out below a number of checks to carry out when deciding which firm to instruct.

 

Experience of winning cases

Check - has the firm provided you with many examples of successful cases in drink & drug driving cases? We have won lots of cases. Click here to read several hundred of our successful clients.

 

Do they have a proven track record?

Check - has the firm given you convincing information about their success rates? We have lawyers with high success rates. Click here to read about one lawyer on the Gold service who won all his cases over a 3 year period.

 

Will they push to get the case dropped?

Check - has the firm given you examples of case studies where they have pushed to get the charges discontinued early? Many firms wait until the conclusion of the case to fight your case and let the Judge decide. We don't wait for the trial. Where the opportunity arises, our reviewing lawyers will make written representations to the prosecution to get the case dropped to minimise the stress and cost of the case. This is how we achieve a substantial proportion of our successful cases. Click here to read about 18 cases discontinued over 25 days.

 

Legal aid firm vs Specialist firm

Check - have you done your research about how drink & drug cases are won? Most legal aid lawyers aren't trained in police procedure defences in motoring cases or case management tactics yet this is how around 90% of our successful clients keep their licence. High street and legal aid lawyers adopt a very simplistic tick box approach as to whether an offence has been committed as they lack experience and will tell you it's a waste of time trying to fight the case (because they don't know how). It will be difficult to avoid a driving ban with a high street or legal aid lawyer when they don't know the the most common ways to defend drink driving charges.

 

Are they Genuine Specialists?

Check - is the firm you have spoken to a genuine specialist in drink & drug driving? We are unique in England and Wales as the only solicitors who do nothing but drink & drug driving related cases. Lots of other firms call themselves specialists but they actually do other motoring offences as well. You can do a simple check with an anonymous call to their office asking if they do speeding or dangerous driving to confirm if they are genuine specialists. Feel free to contact us with an anonymous phone call and we will turn away any non drink & drug driving related cases!

 

Local firm vs National Firm

Check - have you done your research into the benefits of a national firm? Local firms come under pressure to get their clients to plead guilty or risk becoming very unpopular in their local court. They also tend to have little or no experience of procedural arguments and case tactics in drink & drug driving cases. Don't confuse the comfort of a local face to face with the reassurance of having the best chance of keeping your driving licence with specialist drink & drug driving solicitors.

 

Should you use a family friend or recommendation?

Check - Are you thinking of instructing a lawyer recommended by family or friends?  It is very unlikely they have the level of specialism which we have acquired over thousands of drink driving cases. Does their website have examples of hundreds of successful drink & drug cases? Do they have evidence of recent success rates in just drink & drug driving cases? Do they do other cases apart from drink & drug driving? Click here for a selection of our cases with several hundred successful clients. Can they do the same?

 

Are the fees reasonable? 

Check - are their fees clear and reasonable? Some firms charge astronomical fees for the same service we provide. The irony is we are more specialised than these other firms at a fraction of the cost. Some firms demand large sums of money up front which you may never see again whereas we stagger payments over the course of the case on a 'pay as you go' basis and claim the fees back if successful. This means if the charges are discontinued early on you will have saved a lot in legal fees compared to those firms asking for upfront payments. See our fees page for more details.