This area covers the most serious criminal offences involving death, including murder and manslaughter, investigated by the police and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service. A solicitor in England will advise on the case, help secure bail where possible, review the evidence and police interview material, instruct experts, and represent the client at plea hearings and the trial in the Crown Court, challenging witness statements and guiding the defence strategy throughout. Proceedings are governed by criminal procedure in England and Wales, with the court process culminating in a Crown Court trial or a guilty plea with sentencing.
Where a solicitor protects your position
The stakes include a possible life sentence or long-term imprisonment, strict timelines for disclosure and disclosure-related decisions, and the risk of collateral consequences such as loss of liberty. A solicitor protects the client by examining evidential thresholds, managing disclosure and unused material, raising admissibility issues, and conducting robust advocacy at trial and sanction hearings, all within professional regulatory standards.
