Do I instruct a solicitor?

[spsmith]

I have just had my court date for a speeding offence earlier this year. I curently have a clean license but suspect I am in for 6 points and/or a short ban.

In the circumstances should I take a solicitor/barrister along to help or will this just serve to irritate the magistrate?

[R_U_LOCAL]

It won't irritate the Magistrates at all - it's your right to have someone represent you.

In my opinion, it's not worth the expense if you're pleading guilty though.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Agree with RU if pleading Not Guilty.

If you are articulate then prepare and rehearse your mitigation/sack cloth and ashes speech - fine weather, light traffic, good visibility, car in good condition, realise now what a stupid thing to do, salutory lesson for the future, sorry for wasting court time - you get the drift.

You will be guided by the Clerk of Court - the chap sitting in front of the Magistrates.

Appear respectable.

In doing so you save yourself £200 that a brief would have charged.

Pleading Not Guilty is another matter.

dvd

[TPS]

Agree with the above posts.If you are pleading guilty then its probably best to stand up say your really sorry etc etc that you had a clean licence before and it was a silly moment of madness.I can only see the point of using a solicitor when your pleading not guilty.

[Conian]

There is a habit appeared with bikers facing a driving ban to sell their bike prior to going to court.

I'm sorry y'honour, I've learned my lesson y'honour, I've even sold my bike y'honour so that I'll never do this again.

Load of tripe I reckon. What car do you drive?

[oldsoak]

Conian said:

There is a habit appeared with bikers facing a driving ban to sell their bike prior to going to court.

I'm sorry y'honour, I've learned my lesson y'honour, I've even sold my bike y'honour so that I'll never do this again.

Load of tripe I reckon. What car do you drive?

...and how much do you want for it?

[tankslappa]

I was in court yesterday, and i too was apprehensive about not taking a solicitor. I had never been in a court room before and had no idea what to expect.

From my experience it was a complete waste of time and money taking one. I could have put across my point at least as good and saved myself the cash in the process.

Suited and booted, clean license, job loss etc, had no effect in my case, don't assume it will in yours either.

Oh, and be very economical with the truth on your means test form.

To be honest, if i ever found myself in that situation again, i'd lie like hell about income and having 'exceptional circumstances'. Didn't pay for me to be honest and upfront.

[JustinP1]

tankslappa said:

I was in court yesterday, and i too was apprehensive about not taking a solicitor. I had never been in a court room before and had no idea what to expect.

From my experience it was a complete waste of time and money taking one. I could have put across my point at least as good and saved myself the cash in the process.

Suited and booted, clean license, job loss etc, had no effect in my case, don't assume it will in yours either.

Oh, and be very economical with the truth on your means test form.

To be honest, if i ever found myself in that situation again, i'd lie like hell about income and having 'exceptional circumstances'. Didn't pay for me to be honest and upfront.

I agree with a lot of that.

Unless your case is going to be a marker for future cases, like you were doing 150 or something then if you are pleading guilty, do it yourself.

Bringing a solicitor only shows two things. One is that for whatever reason you do not want to give your reasons personally... The other is you have enough money to afford a solicititor!

Neither of these with help the solicitor empathise with your position and both will only make your situation worse!