Criminal defence barristers.
Leading criminal defence barristers for the full range of criminal offences including sexual offences, fraud, drugs and proceeds of crime. Experienced counsel forf the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and in judicial review.
If you are facing a criminal case, the advocate standing next to you matters. A good criminal barrister does more than read the brief. They see the weakness in the prosecution evidence before the jury does, they know when a witness statement contradicts the body-worn footage, and they understand that a criminal trial is won or lost in the detail — a missing exhibit, a careless phrase in a police interview, a disclosure schedule that does not add up.
Clerk&Counsel is not a barristers chambers. We are a clerking agency that places instructions with experienced criminal barristers across England and Wales. We work with defence barristers who practise from established barristers chambers and with independent criminal counsel who have built reputations in specific areas of criminal law. Every barrister we place is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
Whether you need pre charge advice, representation at the Magistrates Court, a leading criminal defence KC for a Crown Court trial, or counsel to argue a point of law in the Supreme Court, we can match you with the right criminal barrister for the case. Please contact the clerks to discuss your matter in confidence.
The full range of criminal offences.
The criminal barristers we place cover the entire spectrum of criminal work. They are comfortable in the Magistrates Court on a Tuesday morning and in the Court of Appeal on a Wednesday afternoon. The criminal offences including those we routinely handle are:
- Sexual offences — rape, sexual assault, historic allegations, indecent images, and offences against children.
- Serious violence — murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, wounding with intent, GBH and ABH.
- Fraud and financial crime — boiler room fraud, VAT fraud, mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, money laundering, and bribery.
- Drug offences — importation, supply, production, conspiracy, and proceeds of crime linked to drug trafficking.
- Firearm and weapon offences — possession, use, and trafficking of firearms and offensive weapons.
- Road traffic and driving offences — causing death by dangerous driving, drink and drug driving, and disqualification appeals.
- Terrorism and national security — preparatory acts, funding, and offences under the Terrorism Act.
- Proceeds of crime — confiscation proceedings, cash forfeiture, restraint orders, and civil recovery.
- Public order and protest offences — violent disorder, affray, and offences arising from demonstrations.
- Appeals and judicial review — appeals against conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and judicial review of Crown Prosecution Service and police decisions.
From the Magistrates Court to the Supreme Court.
Most criminal cases start in the Magistrates Court. Our criminal barristers represent defendants at first hearings, bail applications, mode-of-trial determinations, and full trials in the magistrates. For either-way and indictable-only offences, the case moves to the Crown Court, where a defence barrister takes the advocate's role — conducting the plea, managing the disclosure, challenging the evidence, and addressing the jury.
For cases that raise a point of law of general public importance, or where the Court of Appeal has made an error that needs correcting, the route is to the Supreme Court. Our criminal barristers include those with experience at the highest level, including high profile cases that have shaped how criminal law is interpreted in England and Wales.
Beyond the trial process, we also place counsel for judicial review of decisions made by the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and other criminal justice bodies. Judicial review is a specialist jurisdiction, and the barristers we instruct in this area understand both administrative law and the operational realities of criminal enforcement.
Why instruct a criminal barrister through Clerk&Counsel?
We do not keep a panel of generalists. When you contact the clerks, we ask what the case involves, which court it is in, who the opponent is, and what the budget looks like. We then match you with a criminal barrister whose practice aligns with the case. That might be a junior with twenty murder trials under their belt, a KC recognised in Chambers and Partners for sexual offences work, or a fraud specialist who understands SFO disclosure protocols.
Our criminal barristers have appeared in some of the most high profile cases in recent years. They understand how to manage media attention, how to protect a client's reputation while the case is live, and how to prepare a defence that holds up under prosecutorial scrutiny. They also know when a case should not go to trial — when the right move is a written submission, a discontinued application, or a carefully negotiated basis of plea.
We believe that good criminal defence barristers deserve good clerking. That means clear fee agreements, reliable papers, and clerks who understand the pressure a criminal case puts on a defendant and their family. If you need legal advice at any stage of a criminal case, from pre charge through to appeal, please contact us.
Brief a criminal defence barrister.
If you need experienced criminal counsel for the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, the clerks can match you with the right defence barrister. Fixed fees, clear terms, and no obligation to proceed until you are ready.
Common questions.
What types of criminal cases do your defence barristers handle?
Our criminal barristers cover the full spectrum of criminal law — from pre charge advice and Magistrates Court representation through to the most serious Crown Court trials, appeals to the Court of Appeal, and cases that reach the Supreme Court. That includes sexual offences, serious violence, murder and manslaughter, fraud and financial crime, drug offences, firearm offences, and proceeds of crime proceedings. We also place counsel for judicial review of criminal decisions.
Can I instruct a criminal defence barrister directly?
In many cases, yes. Members of the public can instruct a criminal barrister directly under the Public Access scheme for advice, drafting and certain hearings. For trials that require ongoing case management, disclosure review, or client care between hearings, it is usually better to instruct a solicitor first and have counsel led alongside. The clerks will advise you honestly on which route suits your criminal case.
What is the difference between a defence barrister and a solicitor in criminal law?
A solicitor runs the file, takes initial instructions, manages correspondence, gathers evidence and instructs experts. A criminal barrister is the specialist advocate who advises on the legal merits, drafts indictments and applications, and presents the case in court. In complex criminal cases, the two work as a team — the solicitor prepares the ground, and the barrister argues the law and examines the witnesses.
How do I choose the right criminal barrister for my case?
Experience in the specific area of criminal law matters. A barrister who regularly handles sexual offences will have a different skill set from one who specialises in fraud or proceeds of crime. Seniority, previous high profile cases, and whether they have appeared in the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court are also relevant. The clerks at Clerk&Counsel match the barrister to the case, not the other way around.
Are your criminal barristers ranked in Chambers and Partners or Legal 500?
We place instructions with experienced criminal barristers, including those recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Rankings are one indicator of quality, but they are not the only one. We also work with highly capable junior criminal barristers and KCs who are building strong reputations in specific areas of criminal defence. We focus on fit, availability and fee structure, not just directory entries.
How much does a criminal defence barrister cost?
Fees vary depending on the seriousness of the case, the seniority of counsel, the volume of preparation, and whether the matter stays in the Magistrates Court or proceeds to the Crown Court. Some criminal work is legally aided. For privately funded cases, we agree fixed fees or hourly rates in writing before counsel accepts the brief. There are no hidden charges.
Do you provide legal advice before charges are brought?
Yes. Pre charge legal advice can be the most important intervention in a criminal case. Our criminal barristers can review the evidence, advise on interview strategy, draft written representations to the police or Crown Prosecution Service, and make submissions designed to stop a prosecution before it starts. Early advice often changes the outcome.