CRIMINAL LAW

Our senior barristers are frequently instructed as leading counsel in substantial and high-profile cases, often working as part of larger legal teams in matters involving extensive evidence, multiple defendants or complex legal issues.

Chambers acts for both prosecution and defence, giving our members a broad understanding of criminal litigation from every perspective. Our barristers are regularly instructed at an early stage to advise on case strategy, evidence, disclosure and tactical issues, as well as to provide representation at trial and on appeal.

We work closely with our instructing solicitors, prosecuting authorities and other organisations to ensure that the right barrister is matched to each case, taking into account the nature of the allegations, complexity of the proceedings, level of seniority required and the particular needs of the client.

Our clerking team provides a responsive and practical service, ensuring that instructions are dealt with efficiently and that clients have access to specialist criminal counsel at every level of call.

Great James Street Chambers is recognised in The Legal 500 UK Bar 2027 for Crime (General and Fraud) – Tier 3, reflecting the strength of our criminal practice and the quality of advocacy delivered by our members.

Great James Street Chambers has a strong criminal team acting for both defence and prosecution from the Magistrates’ Courts to the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal.

Our barristers are instructed in criminal matters at all stages, including cases of murder, terrorism, fraud, corruption, corporate manslaughter, serious sexual offences, serious and organised crime (including major drugs conspiracies) and people trafficking. Our senior barristers are often instructed as lead counsel, and we work closely with our instructing solicitors and organisation to ensure we pair the right barrister with any given case.

Members accept private and legally-aided instructions, both defending and prosecuting. We have prosecutors within Chambers ranging from grade 1 to grade 3, with some appointed as RASSO (rape and serious sexual offences) counsel. We advise on criminal law procedures relating to restraint orders, arrest, bail, search warrants and production orders.

It is important to seek legal advice from an early stage. Our barristers are instructed to prepare pre-charge representations to prosecuting authorities, providing advice on legal rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to avoid self-incrimination, identifying weaknesses in cases and highlighting these issues to investigators, presenting mitigating factors or alternative explanations for behaviour, advocating for alternatives to prosecution, such as cautions or diversion schemes, which may be more appropriate in certain cases and offering support throughout the investigation process.

Our expertise lie within the courtroom setting and our barristers appear for clients across England & Wales, persuading juries in all areas of criminal law.

CRIMINAL APPEALS

We recognise that a wrongful conviction or sentence at any level can have a devastating impact on appellants and their families. We are regularly instructed to draft legal opinion on merits, grounds of appeal and to appear at all appellate levels from appeals against Magistrates’ courts decisions to the Crown Court, to appearing in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and European Court of Human Rights. We have experience in drafting submissions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and several barristers have additional expertise in judicial review.

INSTRUCTING OUR BARRISTERS

We accept instructions from solicitors in the usual way. Please contact the clerks’ room at clerks@greatjames.co.uk to discuss your client’s needs and counsel availability.

Public access scheme

We are instructed under the public access scheme. This can be a cost-effective way to secure specialist advice. For all clients we can offer an Initial Legal Advice Session, where for an initial fixed fee, preliminary advice can be obtained to determine whether or not there are any merits in pursuing your case. Please contact the clerks’ room at clerks@greatjames.co.uk to discuss your needs and counsel availability.

We work closely with a number of Solicitors’ firms to whom we can refer cases for those unsuitable for public access.