McMillans Solicitors conducts all its cases on an agreed fixed fee basis. We offer fixed fees for each stage of your case.
All criminal cases can be broken down into the following stages:
Magistrate’s Court Cases
Stage 1 – Police Station Stage. This is while the police are investigating the allegations against you. This may be while you are on bail or released under investigation. This stage can last a few weeks or more often than not many months. The fixed fee lasts for the duration of the police investigation and includes us liaising with the police, meeting with you as often as you like and attending the police station with you whenever you are required to attend. The fixed fee retainer comes to an end when the police advise us as to the final decision as to how they intend to proceed (either charge, caution or no further action).
Stage 2 – The Magistrate’s Court Plea Stage. All criminal cases (where a client is charged) have their first court appearance at the Magistrate’s Court. Your first court appearance is generally around 4 weeks after you have received notification that you will be charged. The stage 2 fixed fee covers all advice and assistance up to and including representing you at you first appearance at the magistrate’s court where you will generally be required to indicate a plea.
Stage 3 – The Final Magistrate’s Court Stage (Trial and / or Sentencing Stage). If you plead guilty your case will ordinarily be adjourned for a sentencing hearing in around 3 to 4 weeks. The stage 3 fixed fee covers you up to and including that final sentencing hearing. If you plead not guilty the stage 3 fixed fee covers us preparing for your trial and in the event that you are found guilty the fee also covers us representing you at any subsequent sentencing hearings.
Crown Court Cases
Stage 1 – As above
Stage 2 – As Above
Stage 3 – If you plead not guilty at the magistrates court and elect Crown Court trial (or the court refuses jurisdiction) this stage will be up to and including your first appearance at the Crown Court for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH). This usually takes place approximately 4 weeks after your first appearance at the magistrates court. This fixed fee covers advising and representing you up to and including the PTPH hearing. If you plead guilty at the magistrates court and you are committed for sentence to the Crown Court the stage 3 fixed fee includes us advising and representing you up to and including the final sentencing hearing at the Crown Court.
Stage 4 – Crown Court Trial Stage. If you plead not guilty at the Crown Court there will be one final stage which is up to and including representing you at your Crown Court trial.
Money Back Guarantee
We are happy to offer a full refund in relation to the stage 1 (the police station stage) fixed fee on all our cases assuming the following conditions are met:
- You notify us within 28 days of the date that you first formally instructed us to take on your case that you require a refund.
- That you do not instruct us further in relation to your case and you do not instruct us to represent you at court
- You are happy to discuss the quality of client care and advice you have received with the firm’s principle Joe Happe either in person or on the telephone. This gives us the opportunity to ascertain why you are unhappy with the service you have received (and where necessary improve our procedures). If you are not prepared to discuss why you are dissatisfied we reserve the right not to offer a refund.
We are also happy to offer a full refund in relation to stage 2 (magistrate’s court plea stage) fixed fee assuming the following conditions are met:
- That we have NOT represented you in relation to stage 1 above
- You notify us within 28 days of the date that you first formally instructed us to take on your case that you require a refund
- You are happy to discuss the quality of client care and advice you have received with the firm’s principle Joe Happe either in person or on the telephone. This gives us the opportunity to ascertain why you are unhappy with the service you have received (and where necessary improve our procedures). If you are not prepared to discuss why you are dissatisfied we reserve the right not to offer a refund.
For the avoidance of doubt we do not offer a money back guarantee in relation to Stage 3 or 4 as described above (in relation to Magistrate’s and Crown Court Cases).
If you have any questions in relation to our money back promise please feel free to call the firm’s principle Joe Happe.