May 26, 2026
The Government's new Youth Justice White Paper promises major reforms to the youth justice system. We examine what the proposals could mean for children, families and the future of youth offending policy.
Criminal Defence Solicitor
The Switalskis criminal defence team is one of the best criminal defence teams. Not only are they award-winning, but they've also made legal history through their commitment, expertise, and skill in defending their clients.
Facing criminal charges affects your reputation, employment, freedom and your future. If you’re found guilty, outcomes can vary from fines and community orders to custodial sentences. Expert legal advice is essential to navigating the complexities of criminal law and securing the best outcome.
Specialising in a range of criminal offences from motoring crimes to assault, terrorism, and human trafficking, the team includes an in-house barrister and two solicitor advocates, meaning they can advise you at every stage. They can represent you whether it's at the police station, the magistrates, the Crown Court, the Court of Appeal or the youth court.
We're proud of our exceptional criminal defence team; they fight for the best outcome no matter the charge. They have decades of experience in advising clients and will help you achieve the best outcome. They can advise you on:
All our duty solicitors have been qualified for over 10 years under the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme (CLAS) to practise as duty solicitors in the magistrates’ court and police stations. So you know you're getting a solicitor with the experience needed to advise you effectively.
To find out how we can help, call today on 0800 1380 458, or reach out to us via our website.
Facing criminal charges can be daunting. Our dedicated criminal defence solicitors understands this, and we’re here to take on the legal burden, making sure you're informed and confident at every stage.
Although criminal defence cases can vary depending on the circumstances of the offence, here's a quick guide to how the defence process can look:
Whether you’re arrested or informed in another way that criminal charges are being brought against you, get in touch with our criminal defence team. We'll have a chat about your situation to give you an idea of what you might be up against. We can advise you on the best approach to take and how you should plead.
It's important to speak to a solicitor early to start building a defence - ideally, as soon as you're invited for a police interview. Most criminal charges begin with a police investigation, and this acts as your first opportunity to put forward a robust defence. Among our criminal defence services, Switalskis can represent clients at police stations and deliver expert advice on complying with investigators.
If you’re charged and decide to plead not guilty, we'll start gathering all the evidence we need to build a strong defence. The nature of the evidence will vary depending on the offence but could include CCTV footage, witness statements, digital communications, medical records and written reports of any interactions with law enforcement or other parties involved. Our criminal defence team's case preparation experts will build the strongest possible defence.
All of the evidence we’ve gathered and the argument we’ve built in your defence will be presented at trial. In criminal offence proceedings, there may be a number of court hearings, including a final trial. You can trust us to present your case effectively and fight for your rights whether the matter concludes in the magistrates’ court or is dealt with at the Crown Court.
If you plead guilty or are found guilty after a trial, we can assist at your sentencing hearing to make sure that you achieve the best possible result.
Throughout this journey, we'll keep you in the loop and stay in regular communication so you can make informed decisions. We’ll also help you understand any bail conditions or restrictions that might apply and make sure you’re not at risk of facing further penalties by breaching these rules.
How your case proceeds and the time it takes will vary depending on:
If you’re charged with an offence by the police, you’ll typically need to attend court to enter a plea within 4 to 12 weeks.
You may also be summoned by letter to answer charges in court, this is known as a postal requisition. You may receive a postal requisition without warning or prior contact with the police. If you receive one, you will likely to need to attend court within a maximum of 12 weeks.
A guilty plea in the magistrates’ court often results in the case being dealt with on the first occasion, but not always.
A not guilty plea means that there’ll be at least one further hearing. If the case remains in the magistrates’ court, the second hearing will probably be the trial itself. If the case is sent to the Crown Court, there will probably be more hearings.
Your solicitor will be able to give you more details on how long your case may take and which court you will be tried in after your initial consultation.
In some cases your criminal defence solicitor is funded by the state through legal aid. If you're financially eligible and your case meets the criteria for legal aid funding, we will prepare and submit the application for funding on your behalf. If legal aid funding is granted, then your representation costs are paid by the legal aid scheme.
If legal aid funding isn't available for your case or circumstances, then we will discuss the options for instructing us on a private paying basis. In some cases we can offer fixed fee advice.
Legal advice at the police station is free. If you've been arrested or asked to an interview then the police custody officer will help you get a legal aid solicitor. You can either use the police station duty solicitor or contact your own.
Legal aid is automatic for legal representation in court if you’re:
Any advice and assistance we provide at a police station interview is covered by legal aid meaning it's free, regardless of your financial position.
After the police station if you don't qualify for legal aid then the cost for defending against a criminal offence charge varies. It depends on things like the allegations and evidence against you.
We’ll assess your case and prepare a tailored estimate for you so you have all the information needed before you proceed. If we succeed in defending your case, it may be possible to recover some of your legal costs.
In certain circumstances, we offer a fixed-fee service. However, these don’t factor in outside costs, which you may have to pay separately, but are usually inclusive of our handling of your case, right up to representation in court. We currently charge VAT of 20% on all our services and third-party disbursements.
There are also some cases where you may be able to rely on an insurance policy to help cover your legal fees. Whether this is possible will depend on the unique details of your case.
If you'd like to get a more detailed overview of the costs contact our crime team .
For representation at a single hearing for a guilty plea and mitigation, in cases that conclude in the Magistrates’ court, we charge a fixed fee of £720 (inclusive of VAT). Typically we only offer this service in West Yorkshire. We may be able to offer it elsewhere, but this could result in additional costs that need to be agreed beforehand.
This fee is subject to the following:
In some cases, you’ll need to pay for the services of third parties in addition to our fees (disbursements). For example, there may be costs to instruct an expert witness, such as in cases where a psychiatric report is needed. This will typically cost between £1,000 and £2,000 (plus VAT), but this depends on the specifics of each case. You may also need to pay for reports that can be used in evidence, for example, if you’re contesting a drink driving charge. Such reports typically cost up to £1,000 (plus VAT).
If you’re pleading not guilty, you will need representation at a trial in the Magistrates’ court unless your case is being transferred to Crown Court, and we’ll be able to represent you for a fixed fee.
This fee is typically between £1,000 and £2,000 (plus VAT) if you’re represented by one of our solicitors, and between £2,000 and £5,000 (plus VAT) if you’re represented by our in-house barrister Jim Littlehales .
We’ll agree to a fixed fee with you before you decide to begin the legal process with us. The amount of this fee will also depend upon the complexity of the case and the length of the trial. If we have to travel to venues other than Leeds Magistrates’ Court or Leeds Crown Court, we will charge for mileage and travel time.
Jim Littlehales is our specialist in-house barrister, dealing with motoring offences, and is supervised by Michael Devlin .
In cases where he’s asked to argue special reasons or exceptional hardship, we typically charge between £2,000 and £4,000 (plus VAT). However, this fee will depend on the venue and complexity of the case. Representation by one of our solicitors in cases of this nature will typically cost between £1,000 and £2,000 (plus VAT).
In all matters, if you’re paying for our services privately, we’ll need payment for the first court hearing before it happens. We’ll then need payment in full to cover any outstanding amount of the fixed fee before the trial date.
Find out more, call us today on 0800 1380 458, or reach out to us via our website.
The Government's new Youth Justice White Paper promises major reforms to the youth justice system. We examine what the proposals could mean for children, families and the future of youth offending policy.
A youth rehabilitation order is one of the most common sentences given by the youth court. It is designed to support rehabilitation rather than simply punish a young person. If your child has been given a youth rehabilitation order, understanding what it involves is essential. A youth crime solicitor can help explain the requirements and what to expect.
The tragic events in Southport in July 2024, where a 17-year-old carried out a fatal knife attack on young children, are deeply distressing. They have raised questions about how warning signs of troubled youths are identified, shared between agencies and acted upon in time.
If your child has been charged with a criminal offence, their case will be handled in the youth court. This is a specialist court designed to deal with children and young people differently from adults. Understanding what to expect can help reduce uncertainty and ensure your child is properly supported.
Our solicitors are experts in criminal defence. It's the reason Switalskis exists. We were established in 1993 by Stephen Switalskis as a criminal defence solicitors firm. His vision was that everyone would have access to fair legal representation no matter their background or offence. Here’s what makes Switalskis service stand out:
Criminal cases can be full of confusing legal language and procedures. We always prioritise getting you the best results while keeping our approach simple and efficient. We'll answer your questions, break down any confusing language and keeping you updated throughout.
We understand this is likely to be a difficult time for you. We're here to listen, understand your circumstances and offer advice that's tailored to you. You're not just another case; you're a person needing advice in challenging times, and we're here to get you through it.
When it comes to criminal defence, you need a team you can count on. With Switalskis, you're in safe hands. Our solicitors have a wealth of experience and a proven track record in handling all kinds of criminal cases. We’ll consider every circumstance to deliver the strongest possible defence for you.
We're committed to making sure your voice is heard. No matter your situation, you have the right to a fair, judgement free legal defence. We’ll make sure rights and protected during the whole procedure, and give you the best advice in the police station through to representing you in court.
If you’re being accused of committing a criminal offence, don’t leave your fate to chance. Even if you feel like your innocence speaks for itself, you need a legal expert to help you put it before the court. Speak to the criminal defence solicitors at Switalskis as soon as possible and we will begin work to build your defence and uphold your rights. To learn more, call us today on 0800 1380 458 or contact us through our website .