When and how do you contact a solicitor?

If you think you need the help of a legal aid solicitor, you should contact one as soon as possible if you:

• have been served with a penalty/fine/direct measure/other alternative to going to court and you want to go to court to challenge this
• you are a suspect at a police station
• are in custody in a police cell
• have been released to later appear in court
• have received a letter telling you to go to court to face criminal charges.

A legal aid solicitor must be on the Criminal Legal Assistance Register. You can check the register to see if a solicitor is listed, or to find your nearest registered solicitor.

We also directly employ solicitors and solicitor advocates in the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office (PDSO). PDSO is a network of publicly funded, specialist criminal defence lawyers with experience of dealing with all types of criminal cases.

If you are a suspect at a police station and you want to speak to your solicitor (if you have one) or would like a solicitor, the police will contact your named solicitor. If they aren't available, or you don't already have a solicitor, you can speak to one of our solicitors by telephone or the duty solicitor can attend the police station to speak to you.