Richard Barrett
Public access: Yes
Conduct of Litigation: Yes
Practice Areas
- Crime
- Civil Litigation
- Extradition
- Immigration
- Public Law
CRIME
Experienced in a wide range of serious criminal cases from murder, manslaughter, multi-handed conspiracies involving firearms and drugs and gang related crime and in all other areas of the criminal law.
Dual capacity; employed by a firm as a duty lawyer (equivalent of a duty solicitor); independent practice as a barrister. Specialises in criminal defence and extradition law; appears in extradition matters as a court duty lawyer as part of the court duty solicitor scheme; practice also includes civil litigation and immigration and public law matters.
Qualified as a barrister; converted to a solicitor and eventually a solicitor-advocate before returning to the bar in 2016. Practising as a solicitor qualified as a duty solicitor and continues to be a Legal Agency qualified duty lawyer regularly appearing as a court and police station duty lawyer as a consultant with a firm of solicitors in London. During practice: involved in a wide range of cases and offences of varying degrees of complexity, including murder, fraud, offences against the person, firearms, drugs cases and sexual offences. Interest in human rights issues and social justice matters including commitment to legally aided cases is an important factor when accepting cases to ensure that those who are most vulnerable in our society have proper representation before the courts.
When practising as a solicitor became the head of criminal and mental health law at a firm in the West Country and regularly appeared for members of the armed forces before the criminal courts and courts martial. Able to work closely with solicitors and other members of the legal profession in the preparation and presentation of cases as a result of being a practising solicitor and advocate for many years before returning to practise at the bar. Still appearing regularly at the magistrates’ and youth courts as a duty lawyer and attending police stations as a duty lawyer to advise and represent those who have asked for the duty lawyer gives him a full understanding of the needs of those who are defendants and suspects at what is often a uniquely vulnerable time in their lives. Readily available to attend for conferences with defendants in chambers, at solicitors’ offices and at other locations as required.
Extradition
Appearing regularly at Westminster magistrates’ court as a duty lawyer in extradition proceedings with experience in advising clients in extradition matters from the stage of request as court duty lawyer through to repatriation and balance to serve following sentence abroad. Able to accept instructions at short notice in these matters; please contact the clerks for more information regarding availability.
Memberships
- Legal Aid Agency duty lawyer panel
- Called to the bar by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple 1990
- Member of the defence lawyers’ extradition forum (DELF)
- Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1997 and awarded the all higher courts HCA qualification 2008
CONTACT
CONTACT OUR CLERKS TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BEST ASSIST YOU.
Great James Street Chambers
0207 440 4949
www.greatjames.co.uk
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