A black and white portrait of a young man with short hair, looking calmly at the camera against a dark background.
Standby · Criminal defence0161 496 0999, day and night

A criminal defence solicitor who answers the phone at three in the morning.

Two solicitors, one phone that is never switched off. If you or someone you love has been arrested, the first call is free and the advice at the police station is free — for everyone, whatever they earn.

If you have been arrested

After the police station, we stay with you

The pale stone front of an old courthouse with three arched doors behind iron railings.
The magistrates' court · from the first hearing
A stone building with a row of columns and a triangular pediment, an autumn tree beside it.
The Crown Court · with a barrister we brief ourselves
Tall fluted columns along the front of a classical building, with steps rising to the doors.
The appeal, if it comes to that · same two people
Looking straight up between tall grey stone columns towards a carved ceiling.

What it costs

Advice at the police station is free to everyone, by law, and we never charge for it. After that, most of our clients qualify for legal aid. If you do not, you get a fixed fee in writing before we start.

Police station advicefree, always

Magistrates' court, guilty pleafrom £650

Magistrates' court, trialfrom £2,400

Driving offencesfixed, quoted on the phone

If you have been arrested

Ask for a solicitor. Say our name.

You have the right to free legal advice, at any time, even if you said no earlier. Ask the custody officer to call Standby.

Say nothing about the allegation until we arrive

Not in the car, not in the corridor, not "off the record". Give your name, address and date of birth, and wait.

Do not sign anything you have not read

Including the custody record. If you cannot read it, say so; you are entitled to help.

If it is someone you love

Ring us with their full name and the police station. We cannot always tell you what they said, but we can tell you they have a solicitor.

A man in a white shirt climbing a wide stone staircase between huge columns and statues in a grand hall.

One number, day and night

0161 496 0999

Answered by one of the two solicitors, not a call centre. At night, by whoever is on call; they will be at the station within the hour in Greater Manchester.

What to say until we arrive
A tall stone building with columns along its front and a clock set high on the facade.