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Criminal law aims to deter and punish conduct which is perceived as threatening, harmful or endangering to the public, its property or moral welfare.
When government leaders take steps to ban certain actions relating to the above, they create crime legislation. Such legislation forbids behaviour including murder, sexual assault, property damage, theft and motor offences. It also includes international relations and extradition, money laundering and terrorism.
The Criminal Justice system acts with dual focus. On one hand, criminal laws are used to control society’s actions. But in addition, they are in place to help citizens understand the effects of their actions. This is because criminal law also includes the punishment and rehabilitation of people who violate laws.
This is a core area of legal practice. As a compulsory part of the qualifying law degree, every law student will have to get to grips with aspects of it during their studies.
A criminal defence lawyer, also called a defence solicitor, is a professional who provides legal advice and representation to individuals and companies charged with criminal offences. They have a duty to advocate on behalf of their clients, and to ensure their rights and interests are protected throughout the criminal process.
Criminal defence lawyers can provide advice and representation in criminal trials, appeals, bail applications, and other matters related to criminal law. In the UK, criminal defence solicitors must be authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to practise criminal defence law.
Criminal defence lawyers should have the knowledge and experience to handle the complexities of criminal cases. They must be able to understand the relevant laws and apply them to the facts of the case. They must also be skilled in understanding the technical aspects of a criminal case, such as evidence, legal process and procedure, and the rules of criminal procedure.
Defence lawyers must also understand the importance of mitigating evidence. This includes such evidence as alibis, prior criminal records, or any other evidence that may reduce the severity of the sentence or the culpability of the accused.
It is important to note that criminal defence lawyers are prohibited from offering legal advice or representation in cases where they are related to the accused. This includes family members, friends or colleagues.
Criminal defence lawyers play a critical role in the criminal justice system in the UK by providing advice and representation to those accused of serious offences. They provide a valuable service to society by ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and justly within the criminal justice system.
To be a criminal lawyer, it’s important for you to be able to thrive under pressure while working on fast-paced cases. Because of the nature of criminal law, you must enjoy a challenge and be able to think on your feet.
Criminal Law also involves a large amount of evidence gathering. herefore being able to deal with information quickly and competently will also serve you well. Attention to detail is very also important as case outcomes often come about through focusing on small details of the evidence.
Finally, it helps to have a neutral and determined approach to your work. Working with such a diverse range of individuals in a range of contexts means that you will have to ignore prejudice and go into every case with an open mind to ensure your clients’ right to a fair trial.
If you want to become a criminal law solicitor, you can spend a few days at a solicitor’s office or attend the open day/vacation scheme of a law firm with a relevant department department.
If you want to become a criminal law barrister, you can shadow a barrister in the field or carry out a mini pupillage.
Universities provide fantastic experience for their students in pro bono initiatives giving free legal advice to those who cannot afford legal aid. This type of experience can be invaluable for improving the types of skills which are necessary for a career in criminal law.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in criminal law the routes you have to take are similar to other areas of law. You must obtain a qualifying degree in law or alternatively a degree in any other discipline followed by the completion of the Graduate Diploma in Law. Following this, if you want to follow the solicitor pathway you will have to undertake the Legal Practice Course and a recognised period of training (via training contract or post 2021, the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam).
If you want to pursue a career at the bar, you will have undertake the Bar Professional Training Course followed by a pupillage in order to complete your qualification.
An alternative to this exists within the Crown Prosecution Service Legal Trainee Scheme. This offers both a route into criminal law through pupillage or period of recognised training but through the Crown Prosecution Service rather than through a law firm or chambers. However, there are limited spaces available on this programme and you have to have passed the BPTC or LPC before applying.
Is criminal law the area most suited to you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out!
The highest average salary for a criminal law solicitor is for those working in London, at around £52,500. Outside of London, the average salary for a criminal lawyer ranges from £32,000-42,000 depending on area. In Scotland and Wales, the average salary of a criminal lawyer is just under £43,000 whilst in Northern Ireland the average is around £33,000.
Salaries not only differ by region but will differ depending on firm and of course will go up as you move through the ranks of Trainee, Newly Qualified Solicitor and Partner.
While criminal barristers tend to earn more than solicitors, the downside to this is that a barrister’s income is less stable, since they are generally self employed.
It’s important to note that criminal lawyers can find themselves paid less than lawyers in other specialisms due to the cuts to legal aid. After the government made a number of cuts to the legal aid provision, many people found themselves unable to afford legal help. As a consequence, fewer people are using criminal solicitors and choosing to solve disputes via alternate methods.
Many law firms nation-wide have specialist criminal law departments. These firms include:
Below, you’ll find a table of some useful criminal law books that can help you with your criminal law studies.
| Name | Author | Price (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Smith, Hogan and Ormerod’s Essentials of Criminal Law | John Child and David Ormerod | £28 |
| The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How it Broken | The Secret Barrister | £5 |
| Janet Loveless | Complete Criminal Law: Text, Cases, and Materials | £32 |
| Criminal Law Directions | Nicola Monaghan | £35 |
| Unlocking Criminal Law | Tony Storey | £35 |
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