Chambers Blog

Most people have driven above the speed limit on at least one occasion, either by choice or accident. As with regulatory offences, you will most likely be sent a notice of intention to prosecute and you will be asked to admit guilt. If you admit guilt, this will lead to the endorsing of your licence and the imposition of points. In some cases you will be summonsed to Court where the excessive speed could lead to disqualification from driving. In some cases there may have been a reason for driving at such speed, and this will have to be explained to the Court in defence or mitigation. Further, the evidence itself may well need to be thoroughly examined, e.g. to ensure correct procedure followed, etc, before a properly considered plea entered at Court. Even where you are only a few mile per hour over the limit you are still liable for conviction. Lay clients can either brief a barrister through a solicitor or they can come direct to a barrister under the public access, or as it is sometimes known direct access, scheme.

The extension of direct access or public access, as it is also known, into the areas of family and crime has meant that there has been a significant increase in work for barristers in these fields. In criminal work this has been particularly noticeable with road traffic offences such as drink driving, speeding offences, careless driving and reckless driving seeing the main growth. There has also been a substantial increase in people looking for licensing lawyers and employment lawyers through direct access, public access. However, probably the greatest area of growth in the direct access, public access barristers scheme is with clients searching for a personal injury lawyer to conduct their case.

 Anyone wishing to instruct a barrister in a direct access, public access case can find more information on our direct access page.