Why crime doesn't pay

[punyXpress]

This is one of the reasons why I don't do much crime.

Did you REALLY mean to say that!
Commiserate regarding H.M.Gov's stealth tax - at least you won't be paying a huge amount of interest. That's if finance were available

Crash course in solicitor rules...

1. I can form my own opinions on guilt or otherwise but I can't let those opinions cloud professional judgement and my duty to explore all the evidence and any defence available.
2. If a client says 'I did it but I want you to get me off' then I can't act. So I never ask a client 'did you do it' as that would put me in an awkward situation.
3. In a killing case, a client might well say 'I did it' but that doesn't mean that they are guilty of murder. It could be manslaughter, or dininished responsibilty, for example.
4. A plea of 'not guilty' doesn't mean 'I didn't do it' - it means 'I put the prosecution to proof that I did do it'. They aren't the same! So even if in my own mind I'm absolutely certain that the client did do it, then defending them following a plea of not guilty is entirely reconcileable.

Originally Posted by Ed

My bill was about £1,000

You got him off with just two hours work?

No seriously, it does suck that it takes that long for you to get (half) the money and I agree with G that there should be a system where you get paid by the chap then he has to reclaim the costs if not guilty. Seems odd. Do all solicitors work that way?

How about if he was found guilty and had to pay you and other costs but didn't have the money? Do you have to offer for him to give you repayments over x years?

Genuinely interested

Originally Posted by cartwrim

You got him off with just two hours work?

No seriously, it does suck that it takes that long for you to get (half) the money and I agree with G that there should be a system where you get paid by the chap then he has to reclaim the costs if not guilty. Seems odd. Do all solicitors work that way?

He's a former co-worker and I know him well, so I didn't ask for money on account. Perhaps I should have done

Originally Posted by cartwrim

How about if he was found guilty and had to pay you and other costs but didn't have the money? Do you have to offer for him to give you repayments over x years?

Genuinely interested

Yes, I'd have to. I have a number of clients who are doing this.

Originally Posted by Ed

He's a former co-worker

Ah ok, so you'd usually get paid up-front for something like this?

Fair play for letting people pay you back over time - I assumed people would have to pay immediately or you'd 'send the boys round'

Anyway, back on topic, why would you only get half the money that you've asked for (and are presumably entitled to) from the courts? Seems a bit unfair.

Cheers,
Matt

Originally Posted by cartwrim

Anyway, back on topic, why would you only get half the money that you've asked for (and are presumably entitled to) from the courts? Seems a bit unfair.

Cheers,
Matt

Cos they apply legal aid rates, £64/hr. Try running an office on that