Pro Bono Week – Criminal Department

In celebration of Pro Bono week, we are specifically applauding our criminal department and their continued contribution to serve those in the community to access justice. Managing Director Adrian Bryant previously represented a client who was convicted of murder in 1998. The client maintained his innocence throughout and for the last twenty years has attempted to challenge his sentence. During this twenty year period, Adrian has remained committed to providing pro bono advice and representation to his client which has included representing him on an appeal to the European Court of Justice, a further appeal to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and three separate parole hearings. Following a recent successful parole hearing, the client is soon due to be released after serving twenty years.

Most recently, Adrian provided pro bono advice to a client which would have ordinarily amounted to approximately £15,000 in legal work. In this particular matter, the Crown Prosecution Service did not decide to prosecute the client. Adrian was very pleased that he was able to assist a vulnerable adult during a traumatic time in her life.  It is often not celebrated that lawyers offering pro bono services are going above and beyond for the community and ensure that those who are otherwise not able to obtain legal aid or cannot afford private representation can be assisted on a pro bono basis where possible.

Charles Strachan are immensely proud of the pro bono services that are offered in both the criminal and family departments so as to ensure the community can access justice and the best possible advice when they need it the most. In some cases, this can make all the difference in a person’s case and how it proceeds.

Charles Strachan can be contacted on 0121 704 3311 and info@charlesstrachan.com