What Is Criminal Law?
Criminal law is the most widely known area of legal practice. It ranges broadly from motoring offences to murder and white-collar crimes, such as corruption and fraud.
What is criminal law? Criminal law is a system of laws that are concerned with the punishment of individuals who commit crimes. It relates to offences that negatively affect society as a whole. This area of the law in the UK is outlined by what Acts of Parliament deem to be acceptable or unacceptable conduct.
In a civil case, two individuals dispute their rights, and a criminal prosecution then involves deciding whether to punish an individual for an act or an omission. It’s important to understand criminal law and what it is.
At Bell Lamb & Joynson, we serve both regional and national clients - that's how trusted and well-respected we are in the industry. Clients come to us from all across the UK, and we assist them from our offices based in Liverpool, Runcorn, and Warrington.
Our expert team of criminal defence solicitors works in all areas of criminal law. To learn the different aspects of criminal law and what we can do to help you or someone you know, continue reading.
What Does a Criminal Law Solicitor Do?
Criminal law solicitors will help you if you've been suspected of a particular crime. A solicitor specialising in crime will also vary from one solicitor to another, depending on the type of work undertaken and whether you are a defence or prosecution solicitor.
General Crime
Solicitors that deal with general crime will constantly be liaising between client and counsel. Additionally, they’ll review evidence, take instructions, and get involved in a conference with the client and counsel. A solicitor's job can involve meeting clients in court, at a police station, or in prison.
Our solicitors specialising in criminal law will represent clients in court in front of magistrates, although the more serious cases are still predominantly handled by barristers. It’s your legal right to have the right to representation at the police station, no matter what the crime - and our police station representation service is free of charge.
White-Collar Crime
White-collar crimes are types of crimes committed without the intention of causing harm. They typically involve financially motivated crimes, such as fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement.
There are many similarities between general crime and white-collar crime - they have the same objective, but the main differences involve the nature of some cases. Some corruption cases mean there are likely to be fairly complex documents, and some cases can last for years.
Civil Law and Criminal Law
Is there a difference between civil law and criminal law? Yes, there is - civil law is different to criminal law.
- Civil law - aims to achieve compensation or an agreement related to finances. This type of law deals with disputes between individuals and organisations
- Criminal law - seeks punishment or penalty for an offence, which aims to maintain stability and balance in society while helping to bring criminal justice
Types of Offences
A court hearing can be held at either the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. The range of offences in the criminal law category varies in terms of seriousness. Examples of common criminal law cases often include:
- Theft
- Fraud
- Assault & GBH
- Possession of controlled drugs
- Supply of controlled substances
- Dangerous driving and other driving offences
- Sexual offences
- Various regulatory offences
The main factor in deciding which court will deal with the crime will often depend on the seriousness of the offence, and the likely sentence that the defence will face if found to be guilty.
For example, the consequence for theft varies depending on the seriousness of the crime - from a low seriousness of shoplifting to a large-scale theft that can involve millions of pounds.
Crimes with lower seriousness levels, such as shoplifting, would remain in the Magistrates Court. However, for a crime at the upper end of the seriousness levels involving a longer sentence or bigger charge (where someone’s found guilty), the hearing would be available to the Magistrates Court and therefore be sent to the Crown Court.
Seeking Help From Expert Criminal Law Solicitors
Whether you or someone you know needs help with being prosecuted, is under investigation or has been arrested, Bell Lamb & Joynson can help. We are the oldest and most experienced criminal defence solicitors in the North West of England.
Our established and experienced team of criminal defence solicitors helps defend any criminal law matter. We can assist with cases ranging from shoplifting to more serious allegations of murder, rape and robbery. So, if you need guidance and support, we encourage you to trust our team and utilise our services.
Apart from our experience and longevity, we:
- Are experts in large-scale drug conspiracies
- Regularly represent defendants nationwide
- Members of the Serious Fraud Panel
- Are continually recommended for our specialist services
- Can deal with the most serious cases of fraud, and other cases that are considered VHCC (Very High-Cost Cases)
If you have read the information above and require some assistance or advice with a criminal law matter, you can be confident about putting your trust in us. We have the expertise and experience to assist you whenever and wherever you need us. Contact us today to find out more.