Specialist, Independent, User-Friendly

On this website you will find independent, practical information about the criminal court system in England & Wales, written by a criminal barrister and presented in a simple and user-friendly format, making it as valuable for non-lawyers as it is for anyone familiar with crminal trials, sentencing and appeals.

Whether you are facing a prosecution, are a victim of crime, are expecting to attend court as a witness, or are searching for information for a friend or relative, you will find everything here is written and laid out in a clear and straightforward way which is easy to follow. 

Where necessary, legal terms are clearly explained and if you want to research an area in more detail there are numerous links to further information to help you you. 

Who is this website for? Criminal justice for all

Whether you have little or no experience of criminal courts and procedure or you understand the system well, you will find a wealth of invaluable information right here.

Understanding and Surving the Criminal Courts

You will be taken in detail through the whole court process, starting from the prosecution opening speech in a criminal trial, all the way through to verdict. You will discover what happens at a sentencing hearing and how judges decide on sentence in a wide variety of different circumstances. If you are considering pleading guilty, our comprehensive guides take you through the process in detail, including credit for a guilty plea, how to change your plea and even how to appeal following a guilty plea.

Trial | Sentence | Appeal

In-depth sentencing guides take you through an extensive range of sentencing options, from fines, community orders, custodial sentences and suspended sentences, to life sentences, extended sentences and mandatory minimum term sentences. Worked examples allow you to make sense of the information provided and illustrate how the courts operate in practice.

If you want to know how to appeal against either sentence, conviction or both, we have that covered too, with detailed guides on appealing from the magistrates’ court and the Crown Court. Even specialist appeals by way of case stated are given careful and comprehensive treatment, clearly laid out for practical understanding. Throughout this website, you will find links to any further information you may need, from court forms and Practice Directions, to Criminal Procedure Rules and Guidance for judges.

As a quick and easy referencer, you will find what you need at your fingertips.

Courtroom questioning, witness protection, even hearsay

If you are going to court, or want to know more about how criminal courts and criminal lawyers operate in practice, you will find detailed guides on witness questioning (examination-in-chief, cross-examination and re-examination). You will be taken through the duty on the prosecution to disclose unused material which undermines its own case, and how the defence can produce a Defence Case Statement and seek further unused material where necessary. We cover the use of good and bad character, Special Measures (for young or otherwise vulnerable witnesses and defendants) and witness protection, and even provide a guide to Hearsay Evidence, a knowledge of which will help you if you are ever faced with needing to present evidence in a criminal trial.

Subscription

The subscription rates for our members are set at the lowest possible level and allow us to provide specialist, professional content at the lowest possible cost to you.

There is no long-term contract so you can cancel your monthly subscription at any time, or why not take out an annual subsciption and get two months’ totally free - your criminal courts companion for less than 14p per day!

If you would like to see what awaits you as a Defence-Barrister member and learn more about the benefits of membership, take a look at our Subscription page. It would be a pleasure to welcome you.

Podcast

If you would like to take a journey through the criminal justice system, from the police station, to trial, sentence and all the way to appeal, join Chris Kessling, Criminal Barrister, and listen to the Defence Barrister Podcast to find out how the criminal justice system really works.

Using real case examples, this podcast will help you to navigate the criminal courts yourself and fully understand how they operate in practice.

Backed up by the Defence-Barrister.co.uk website, the criminal justice system will never have been made so clear.

Legal Advice

While this website provides comprehensive information to help you, please bear in mind that no website can be a substitute for legal advice from a criminal lawyer. If you need specific legal advice on your case you will find a number of helpful links on the contact page, as well as detailed guidance on instructing a barrister direct.

Written by Chris Kessling, Criminal Barrister

Defence-Barrister.co.uk has been written by Chris Kessling, a criminal barrister with many years’ experience prosecuting and defending in the criminal courts in England & Wales.