Private Funding

Read about Belinda Knight’s legal qualifications and experience over 30 years as a criminal defence lawyer and more on the About page.

Please also check out the types of cases the practice gets involved in and the excellent client reviews.

General fees for all cases

This practice discusses legal costs from the outset, with terms and conditions available on
request. Specific costs will be assessed once the practice has clear instructions from you. Our
rates will always remain competitive.

• We aim to take clear, tactical, and practical steps to help achieve the best possible
  outcome in your criminal law case.
• The practice collaborates with a range of private clients and aims to offer practical
  pricing options wherever possible.
• The practice offers excellent value and provides peace of mind.
• The practice will endeavour to keep matters simple, direct, open, and transparent by
  discussing fees upfront.
• We do things properly and keep an elevated level of client satisfaction.

Key Dates, Stages in Preparing and Considering a Criminal Law Case

Bespoke Tailored To You

There are key milestones in every case, although these may vary depending on your
circumstances. No two cases are the same, and our work will reflect the detailed approach
required for your matter.

The likely key stages of your matter will depend on whether you plead guilty or not guilty,
and based on that plea: –

1. The practice will provide written and video guidance before any meeting, helping you
   consider your position and potentially reduce costs.
2. The practice will meet with you to take instructions, obtain, and review initial
   disclosure from the prosecuting authority, and consider any information you choose to
   provide before advising you.
3. The practice will conduct a full legal review and analysis of your case.
4. The practice will conduct preparatory work within the fixed-fee time and obtain
   further evidence on your behalf if you choose to pursue a not guilty plea.
5. The practice will give candid advice on the merits of any challenge to the evidence.
6. The practice will explain the court process, outline what to expect at your hearing, and
   answer any questions you or your representatives may have.
7. The practice will arrange to take witness statements where required, for a not guilty plea or Newton hearing.
8. The practice will discuss the sentencing options available to the court.
9. The practice will attend court and meet you before your case is called. We usually allow half a day for this and focus exclusively on you or your representatives while at court that day.
10. The practice will discuss the hearing outcome, next steps, and any other costs, and provide a written report with advice on the outcome.

Timescale(s)

• We can usually offer same-day appointments by Microsoft Teams or telephone for
  initial advice, if needed.
• Full advice may depend on the availability of prosecution papers. The Crown
  Prosecution Service aims to provide papers five days before the first hearing.

Specific fees for motoring offences – for guilty and not guilty pleas

The practice will offer advice and representation to individuals charged with summary
motoring offences in the Magistrates’ Court, including:

• Careless driving
• Dangerous driving
• Drink/Drug driving offences.
• Driving otherwise in accordance with a license
• Failing to nominate the identity of a driver
• Failing to observe a road sign
• Failing to stop at the scene of an accident
• Fail to provide a specimen of breath/blood.
• No Insurance
• Notice of intended prosecution
• Speeding offences
• Using a mobile phone whilst driving

The practice will usually charge for work at an hourly rate, currently this is at £325 per hour
plus VAT @ 20%. However, the practice may offer fixed fees for summary motoring matters
dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court by way of a guilty plea at the first hearing.

Motoring Offences

The practice’s fixed fee for a typical guilty plea for motoring offence(s) will include the
following work: –

• An initial meeting with you to take instructions.
• Advice on the strength of the evidence for and against you.
• Advice on your plea.
• Advice on sentence.
• Preparation for the sentencing hearing and full mitigation on your behalf.
• Attendance at, and representation at, the sentencing hearing.
• All travelling and waiting time at court.

The fixed motoring offence fee does not include the following possible costs: –

• Instructing expert witnesses where necessary for your defence.
• Counsel’s fees, where you and Belinda Knight Solicitor consider counsel should be
  instructed.
• Taking statements from any witnesses, you consider relevant.
• Travel costs for courts outside the areas local to our offices, as the practice serves
  clients across England and Wales.

Fixed fees for guilty motoring offences will vary depending on factors such as complexity
and the number of hearings. The range is usually from £750 to £1,500 (both plus VAT @
20%).

Fixed fees for not guilty motoring offences that are more complex range from £1,500 to
£4,500 plus (both plus VAT at 20%) for trials in most cases.

The practice may not be able to offer a fixed fee for an unusually complex motoring
offence(s).

If additional costs are likely, the practice will tell you at the earliest opportunity and provide a
clear estimate.

The practice does not normally offer fixed fee packages for the following types of cases,
which would be charged at hourly rates: –

• “Special reasons” arguments – To allow you to keep your driving licence.
• “Exceptional hardship” arguments – To allow you to keep your driving licence.
• “Newton hearings” – These are guilty pleas where there is a trial on facts which are
  disputed, which could lead to a reduced sentence on your behalf.