Business Legal

Business Legal

All About Criminal Lawyers

A criminal lawyer will deal with a full range of criminal offences. These professionals will prosecute on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service or other government agencies such as the local authorities, the National Probation Service, British Transport Police, and similar institutions. On the other hand, a barrister can also specialise in defence work. Practising at the criminal bar is quite challenging for a barrister who is just starting in his/her career. But he or she will gain much experience and derive a personal satisfaction knowing that he or she is making a difference in people’s lives. In fact, you will be protecting the weak and vulnerable individuals in society through your dedicated work at the criminal bar. Some of the job functions of a criminal barrister are discussed further in this post, but a summary is as follows.

A criminal lawyer will deal with a wide variety of cases such as burglary, assault, theft, sexual assault, road traffic offences, fraud, murder, and a host of other cases. The timescale for these cases may vary from a matter of minutes to trials that go on for months and months. A criminal barrister will be on the go most of the time and spend a very little time in the chambers. With the latest technology in communications, you don’t have to spend much time in the chambers – except to make the required calls to keep abreast of your next courtroom appearance. You may have to travel to different courts up and down the country most of the time. You can have a short day if the case is postponed or you may have to go on until 7.00 pm or 8.00 pm in the evenings if the case is taken up by the courts.

A criminal barrister gets the chance of conducting Crown Court trials fearlessly and persuading the court of the innocence of his/her client. The professional has to conduct hours and hours of research and case analysis in order to get to this stage. A barrister should be mentally prepared to experience the highs and lows of winning and losing during his/her career.

The criminal bar offers many rewards and successes for the right criminal lawyer. Your commitment and dedication to the practice are very important to achieve such a success level. Despite the pressures and emotional roller-coasters, a career as a criminal barrister brings many happy returns – both in the intellectual and social strata.

Key Talents A Barrister Should Possess

If you are aspiring to be a barrister, there are some crucial skills that you should start thinking about developing. For you to secure pupillage or a training contract, your skills and attributes are amongst the first things that will be considered. At the same time, they will play a crucial role throughout your career considering that Law is an intellectually-demanding profession.

While academic excellence is one of the more important aspects considered, it, alone is not enough to demonstrate your capability to become a professional barrister, as you can see here. It is, therefore, essential that you nurture, possess and demonstrate other skills that will not only prove you are ready to become a professional barrister but which will also come in handy when your career takes off.

Here are some essential skills a barrister should possess:

Communication and Networking Skills

Successful barristers need to build and maintain healthy, professional relationships with their clients, and these relationships are often based on a rapport established between the professional and their client. Communication and networking skills require good interpersonal skills, which are essential when meeting with colleagues, potential employers, and clients.

Interview Techniques

Interviewing techniques mainly rely on having exceptional communication and interpersonal skills as discussed above. However, interviewing skills are so important for barristers that they are often considered separately since they are not the same as socialising and one needs to be able to lead a questioning and gather important clues and information from the responses you are receiving. Since interviewing is one of the most common things a barrister will do, it is vital that you sharpen these skills.

Being a barrister involves lots of written correspondence and paperwork. As such, it is crucial that you work on your grammar, spelling, precision and clarity. It is also advisable that you be aware of the people you are writing to and that you always write using a formal tone.

Soft Skills

While most of the softer skills like contextually-appropriate communication styles and interpersonal skills have already been covered, soft skills here refers to your general attitude as a Barrister. What will people tell about your attitude through your words, actions, and appearance? How do you handle yourself in different situations? Your attitude will determine how people see you.

Apart from the above, other skills a barrister should possess include, thinking laterally, having an eye for detail, the ability to get the whole picture, and getting along well with others.

Identifying A Top London Lawyer

It is not that hard to find a top London lawyer. You just have to be sure that you find out who has the most experience and the best pricing on their services. That is what we aim to teach you more about here so keep reading for more, and see our second article for further information.

Do your research on who is out there. You can look up London lawyers on the internet and then find out what the names are of the people that are responsible for doing work in this area. When you find a list of London lawyers, make sure you look up each one separately to see what people have to say about them. Reviews need to be detailed because you want to make sure you get all of the information possible about the lawyer instead of just getting one or two sentences.

Some lawyers won’t make you pay unless you win your case and get compensated. If someone agrees to work with you on this kind of plan, then they foresee that they will win the case and that is a good thing. Just make sure you go with someone that doesn’t take all of the money that you are going to get because that will make it pointless to use them when you can find someone who you can pay less than that. It’s important that you find someone that is going to work with what you can afford.

Find out how long the lawyer has been working in the field and you can probably find out how skilled they are. If they are not skilled then they wouldn’t have lasted very long in the field that they are in. If they have a law office and they have been running it for a long time, then that is a very good sign but it also means that they probably will charge you more. Think about contacting them and ask a few questions to see if you are comfortable with the level of customer service they provide before you hire them.

The top London lawyer is the one that is charging a fair price and that does good work. You need to avoid anyone that is the opposite of this because you could end up losing your case. Whether you are going to get compensation or win the case in general highly depends on who you hire.

What To Avoid When Hiring A Criminal Solicitor

Being accused of a crime is something that doesn’t disappear simply because you would like it to. In order to defend yourself against your charges, it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer. If you notice any of these signs while you are searching, you should run like the wind and look elsewhere for assistance.

Urging You To Be Dishonest

Whether you know this or not, most attorneys will not ask you about your guilt. They would rather not know since this can sometimes affect the way that they defend you. If it is clear you have committed the crime and your attorney is urging you to be dishonest, you should be very wary. It is the job of the other attorney to prove you are guilty and your lawyer’s job to make sure your rights are not violated. A good lawyer can make this happen without you getting on the stand and committing perjury.

They Have A Flood Of Cases

If your lawyer has a roster that reads like the attendance sheet at a popular university, you should be concerned. You do not want to hire someone who has so many cases on their plate that yours may not end up getting the attention it deserves. Don’t bend on this rule, even if this is someone who has an excellent track record. It would be a shame for you to lose your case because your lawyer was sidetracked by so many other responsibilities.

Assigning You Someone Different Than Expected

Sometimes law firms will have one of their senior attorneys meet with potential clients and gather information, then they are passed off to someone who does not have as much experience. A bad lawyer would be one who purposely leads you to believe they will be handling your case when they know otherwise.

When you have a consultation with someone one-on-one and you decide to hire the firm, it is typically because you are impressed with the person you have a meeting with. No one expects to be passed along without being given a say in the matter.

Searching for and hiring a defence lawyer is a long and often complicated process, and if you are still confused, read here for more information. Your best bet would be for you to avoid anyone you meet who exhibits any of the behaviors that were mentioned above. Otherwise, you may end up with an outcome you are not pleased with.

3 Essential Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring An Attorney

When choosing an attorney, it helps to know who you are dealing with and what to expect. Lawyers typically provide free or low-cost consultations with clients to ensure that both parties mutually understand what will occur when a lawyer is hired on behalf of the client. These consultations help you determine whether your case needs an attorney, but also helps you determine if this particular lawyer is a good fit. Later, if you do choose to hire this lawyer, you can go into the more specific details that your case entails.

While a referral from those you trust can help you determine which attorney to pick, you still need to do your own research during the consultation. Here are 3 questions to ask an attorney before making your decision to hire them.

1. How long have you been practicing law?

As an introduction, it helps to know how much experience your lawyer has practicing law. Experienced Lawyers tend to know the ins and outs of the legal process, saving you time and giving you an advantage in the courtroom. However, you shouldnt immediately discount new or inexperienced attorneys. Some legal issues can be handled by a novice attorney, often at a lower rate.

2. Have you handled a case similar to mine?

A lawyers expertise can mean the difference between winning and losing a case. An attorney will typically specialize in a type of law that is represented by their skillset and education. For instance, it would be unwise to contact an entertainment lawyer for a case of family law (and vice versa). Furthermore, you should ask whether theyve had specific cases and how the details of those cases could relate to your own.

3. What are your attorney costs and fees?

This question is more elaborate version of asking How much will it cost me to hire you? When it comes down to it, legal representation is exchanging money to help manipulate the law in your favor. With this understanding, you should know exactly how much money will be involved before hiring an attorney. Youll want to be able to afford the services of the lawyer and when youll have to pay the costssome require an upfront retainer for their services, especially if your financial status may be threatened by the outcome of your case (or other pending cases). As with any dealings of legality, make sure to get written documentation that shows how costs are determined for consultation, fees, hourly rates, and so forth.

Remember, some attorneys will negotiate to retain you as a client, with the catch being that they may delegate some of the grunt work of your case (i.e. research, drafting documents) to paralegals or legal assistants. Depending on the severity of your case and the willingness of your potential attorney, this may be the route to go.

Is A Career As A Barrister Right For You?

Pursuing a career in the legal profession is a dream for many people. Others simply drift into this field because they are unsure what else to do. If you have ever considered a career as a barrister, you need to take the time to learn more about this path. This way, you can decide whether or not it is right for you.

Becoming a barrister is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. While many people may begin this journey, only a small fraction will succeed to the degree that barrister Michael Wolkind QC has. You need to be sure that this is what you want to do with your life, or else you may end up wasting a lot of time and energy.

A key part of being a barrister is standing in court and advocating for your clients. You must be able to feel comfortable doing so. Excellent speaking skills and a mastery of rhetoric are qualities that a successful barrister must possess.

Remember, you need to be able to persuade the jury that the facts are on your side. Even if you have doubts or are unsure, you must project a sense of confidence. A barrister who seems to doubt his client, or who wavers in court, is a barrister who will not win many cases.

Being able to think on your feet and deal with high stress situations are also qualities that are vital for your success. After all, no matter how well-prepared you may be, what happens in the courtroom is always unpredictable. When something happens that you did not expect, you have to be able to improvise and deal with it right away.

Once you have read law at university, the next step in your career is to begin preparing for the Bar Professional Training Course, or BPTC. This one-year course is designed to teach what you need to know to become a barrister. You will focus on such subjects as writing opinions, advocacy (both civil and criminal), and professional ethics. You will also have to join one of the four Inns of the Court.

To advance in your career, you will also have to secure a pupillage. Remember, a career as a barrister is a very competitive occupation. You will be competing for a very limited number of spaces with many other skilled candidates. Make sure that this path is right for you before you begin to pursue it.

4 Good Reasons To Hire A Skilled Barrister For Road Accidents

If you are injured in a road accident you need to contact a legal professional at once. A traumatic injury can affect you for the remainder of your life. Don’t allow this to happen to you. Contact a skilled barrister for road accidents to guide you through the best course of action when seeking financial reparations for the damage.

Assuming that the risk of being involved in an accident is low is suicidal complacency. In the UK, over 100,000 people are injured in road accidents each year. Being in a car as a passenger or driving one comes with risk. Over 70 percent of accidents occur on built up roads meaning that driving in urban areas is riskier than driving on country lanes.

Regardless of the type of accident claim, road accident barristers are the best choice in case of an unfortunate mishap on the road. Here are a few reasons to help you understand why.

1. High Quality Service

The finest road accident barristers give you the assurance and confidence that your needs will be properly catered for in the best possible way. It is this quality of service that makes them stand out from the rest.

2. Empathy

Road accident barristers understand the emotional trauma victims go through after being involved in an accident. Understanding the claims process can be a torturous experience for accident victims. Good barristers remove any confusion, anxiety, and fear by making all things precise and clear to clients.

3. The Fight To Achieve The Best Deal Possible

Skilled barristers do their work exceptionally well. They work tirelessly to ensure that their clients get the best possible compensation. Road accident barristers understand that if the claimant shows any laxity, the insurance company will take advantage and reduce the claim amount.

4. No Compromise

Unfortunately, most claims are usually settled out of court, which is not a very desirable situation. Out-of-court settlements in most cases ignore the cases being contested. Would you like your barrister to settle claims out of court while compromising on your lawful entitlement? Obviously not. This is not what you would like to see in a barrister committed to the provision of high-quality service. Experienced road accident barristers understand that the court is the best way for the client to achieve full compensation.

Clients should understand the costs associated with hiring a barrister. Experienced barristers never keep their clients in the dark regarding this issue. Costs aside, there is no denying the fact that a road accident barrister must never be ignored in case an unfortunate road accident ever occurs.

Conclusion

Road accidents can happen to anyone and if you are ever involved in one you need all the help you can get to ensure that you get back on your feet. A barrister for road accidents is the best help that you can get. He or she will guide you through the legal process and ensure that you get maximum compensation. If you are ever involved in a road accident be sure to contact an experienced road accident barrister to aid you through the legal process.

Why is Workplace Health and Safety is Mandatory

Employers should ensure that their employees are working in a conducive environment. They should not just supply them with the equipment they need. They should also work in an environment that is safe and does not put their health at risk. Not ensuring safety and health for your workers can cost a company a lot in terms of finance and reputation.

Hazards at Work

Whatever sort of business you are, there is always the possibility of an accident or damage to someone’s health. All work exposes people to hazards, be they: loads which have to be manually handled; dangerous machinery; toxic substances; electricity; working with display screen equipment or even psychological hazards such as stress.

The Cost of Safety Failure

The reason there are not even more accidents and diseases caused by work is because systems of prevention are in place which have been built up over generations. Safety does not come about by accident: most accidents happen because they have not been prevented. Yet despite all the precautions that are taken in the UK, there are still over 640, 0001 workplace injuries every year as well as 1.8 million2 cases of ill health caused or made more by work.

Sourced from: http://www.rospa.com/occupational-safety/advice/small-firms/pack/why-important/
To ensure that your employees are safe you will have to conduct a risk assessment in your company. Find out what needs to be corrected or eliminated. Prevention has always been better than cure.

What is a Risk Assessment?

A Risk Assessment is a systematic method of looking at work activities, considering what could go wrong, and deciding on suitable control measures to prevent loss, damage or injury in the workplace. The Assessment should include the controls required to eliminate, reduce or minimise the risks.

Why conduct a Risk Assessment?

Risk Assessments are a fundamental requirement for businesses. If you don’t know, or appreciate where the risks are, you are putting yourself, your employees, your customers and your organisation in danger.

Employers must look at all work activities that could cause harm in order to decide whether they are doing enough to meet their legal obligations. This is a minimum requirement. If it is reasonably practicable to do so, employers should consider doing more than the legal minimum.

Sourced from: http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/Legislation-and-policy/Workplace-Health-and-Safety/risk-assessment

So what are the benefits of being an employer who ensures that their employees are working in safe and healthy conditions? Well there are several including saving money and time. You will also boost the productivity levels of your staff.

If you could save money, improve productivity, and increase employee morale, would you?

Businesses spend $170 billion a year on costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses — expenditures that come straight out of company profits. But workplaces that establish safety and health management systems can reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. In today’s business environment, these costs can be the difference between operating in the black and running in the red.

worker-58404_640

To Your Workplace

Safe workplaces provide the consistency and reliability needed to build a community and grow a business. Workplaces with active safety and health leadership have fewer injuries, are often rated “better places to work,” and have more satisfied, more productive employees. These employees return to work more quickly after an injury or illness and produce higher-quality products and services. Each year, OSHA works with thousands of companies to help create better workplaces, providing assessments and help in implementing safety and health management systems.

Sourced from: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/safety-health-addvalue.html