24 hour emergency helpline. The firm handles legal aid and private funding, and says it is approved by the Legal Aid Agency for complex serious fraud cases.
Jonas Roy Bloom is a criminal defence practice in Birmingham city centre, a short walk from the Magistrates' Court. It was formed in 2000 when George Jonas & Co and Nicholas Roy combined, and the firm traces its roots to 1967. Four partners lead the team, two of them Higher Court Advocates. Work runs from motoring cases to murder, with a strong business crime side covering money laundering, serious fraud and confiscation. It suits people facing a serious or complex investigation who want a long established local team.
Formed in 2000, with roots going back to 1967
Also worth knowing
The firm says it is approved by the Legal Aid Agency to handle complex serious fraud cases.
Lawyers
Steven Jonas, Solicitor and Partner, Higher Courts Advocate (All Proceedings)
Ben Henry, Solicitor and Partner
Julia Morgan, Solicitor and Partner, Higher Court Advocate (All Proceedings)
Matt O'Brien, Solicitor and Partner
Shabana Sharif, Solicitor, accredited police station representative and duty solicitor
Owain Mcfarlane, Solicitor, accredited police station representative and duty solicitor
Best for People arrested in Birmingham who need a duty solicitor fast
The firm says it was founded in 1983 and has more than 150 lawyers.
James Turner, senior partner at the Birmingham Central office, is a Higher Court Advocate and has been a duty solicitor since 1998, according to the firm's website.
Aaron Patel in Birmingham is an accredited police station representative and a member of the Law Society's Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme, the firm says.
Free police station advice for anyone arrested or interviewed as a volunteer. Legal aid (means tested) and private funding, with help on applications. 24 hour line 0845 200 3367; police station and legal aid line 03309 120 010; Private Client Criminal Department 07802 691199.
Office
Room 2.08, The Lewis Building, 35 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6AF
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Tuckers is a national criminal defence firm founded in 1983, with a Birmingham Central office on Bull Street. Senior partner James Turner works from Birmingham, sits on the local duty rotas and appears in the Crown Court as a Higher Court Advocate. The Birmingham team covers the police station, Magistrates' and Youth Courts and Crown Court work. The firm takes both legal aid and private cases. It suits anyone who needs a duty solicitor quickly, through to people facing serious Crown Court charges.
Founded in 1983
Also worth knowing
The firm says it sits on the Very High Cost Cases panel and runs an in-house advocacy team.
Lawyers
James Turner, Senior Partner, Higher Court Advocate, Birmingham Central
Harjit Rashoda, Solicitor and duty solicitor, Magistrates' Court team
Aaron Patel, Duty solicitor, Magistrates' Court team
Areas of criminal law handled
Police station representation
Magistrates' Court defence
Youth Court
Crown Court defence
Murder and manslaughter
Serious and organised crime
Fraud and white collar crime
Sexual offences
Drug offences
Road traffic offences
Private client criminal defence
Office
Room 2.08, The Lewis Building, 35 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6AF
Other details
Other offices
About 20 offices nationally, including Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Stoke, London and Manchester
Best for People on legal aid facing Crown Court charges
The firm says it was founded in 1979 and offers only criminal defence services and legal advice.
Directors Tiernan Davis, Alan Newport, Ben Galletti and Charmaine Robinson are qualified duty solicitors with higher rights of audience, according to the firm's website.
The firm says it is approved by the Legal Aid Agency for criminal legal aid and is an approved Very High Cost Case provider.
Free initial consultation. Legal aid for qualifying cases from the police station to the Crown Court; private representation for other matters and for clients who fail the means test.
Office
Suite 16D McLaren Building, 46 Priory Queensway, Birmingham, B4 7LR
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Purcell Parker is a Birmingham criminal defence firm founded in 1979 that does nothing but crime and prison law. Five directors run it, and most of them hold higher rights to appear in the Crown Court. Managing director Tiernan Davis leads, with separate heads for the Crown Court and the police station. It takes legal aid work from the police station to the Crown Court and also acts privately. It suits people on legal aid who want a local team that will see a case through.
Founded in 1979
Also worth knowing
It is one of the few firms approved nationally for publicly funded prison law work, the firm says.
Private funding only; the firm does not accept legal aid instructions. Costs depend on the complexity of the case. Out of hours urgent line 07989 521 210 for arrests and dawn raids.
Office
34 St Paul's Square, Birmingham, B3 1QZ
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
KANGS is a privately funded criminal and financial crime firm founded in 1997, with its Birmingham office on St Paul's Square and further offices in London and Manchester. Senior partner Hamraj Kang leads the firm. Its work leans towards serious crime, fraud, proceeds of crime and HMRC investigations, alongside general criminal defence and motoring cases. It does not take legal aid. It suits people who can pay privately and want a firm used to large financial investigations and dawn raids.
Founded in 1997
Also worth knowing
It acts on private funding only and does not take legal aid, the firm says.
No obligation telephone case assessment, which includes a cost estimate. Private funding only; no legal aid. Fees are agreed per case. Office hours Monday to Friday, meetings by appointment.
Kang & Co is a privately funded criminal defence and driving offences firm with its head office on Newhall Street in Birmingham, plus offices in London and Milton Keynes. It covers police station interviews and pre-charge advice through to Magistrates' and Crown Court trials, working with barristers including KCs. Motoring cases are a large part of the work. It does not take legal aid. First contact is a no obligation phone assessment, and meetings are by appointment only.
Also worth knowing
First contact is a no obligation phone assessment, the firm says.
Lawyers
The firm's website names few individual lawyers, so ask who will handle your case when you first call.
Free initial consultation. Legal aid where available, with help applying; private clients get fixed fees or cost estimates. 24/7 police station emergency line 07891 777090 (arrest or voluntary surrender only). Instructions not taken by WhatsApp or text.
JD Spicer Zeb is a London based criminal defence firm with a Birmingham office on Newhall Street and another in Manchester. Its Birmingham page covers drugs, weapons, serious violence, sexual offences, fraud and terrorism, and the firm says its police station work is done by accredited representatives. It offers a free first consultation, checks legal aid eligibility and also acts privately on fixed fees. It suits people who want one firm that can take either legal aid or private work.
Also worth knowing
A 24/7 line is available for police station emergencies, the firm says.
The firm lists Birmingham criminal defence under publicly funded services, with private and alternative funding also offered. Office hours Monday to Friday.
GT Stewart is a London firm that came to Birmingham when it bought local practice McGrath & Co in 2020. Its Corporation Street office has a named crime team led by salaried partner Georgina Ellis, alongside prison law, family and housing lawyers. The crime work covers investigations, youth cases, motoring, appeals and prison law, and the firm lists it under publicly funded services. It suits people who need legal aid and may also need help with prison, family or housing issues.
Also worth knowing
The firm lists its Birmingham criminal work under publicly funded services.
Lawyers
Georgina Ellis, Salaried Partner and Head of Team, Criminal Defence, Youth Crime and Motoring
Witan is a litigation firm whose main office is in Digbeth, Birmingham, with further offices in London and Northampton. Its crime team handles police interviews, release under investigation and court cases in the Magistrates', Crown and Youth Courts, with a focus on fraud and business crime. Solicitor advocate Qarrar Somji is named on the crime page. The firm acts for private clients only. It suits people under investigation who can pay privately and may also face a civil dispute.
Specialising in litigation since 1986
Also worth knowing
It acts only for privately paying clients, the firm says.
NBB Waldrons is a West Midlands firm with offices in the Black Country, Walsall, Worcester and Birmingham, and a crime team led by solicitor advocate Stephen Hamblett. It covers pre-charge representation, serious crime such as robbery and GBH, fraud, cyber crime and stalking cases. Crime is one department in a wider firm that also does injury, family and private client work. It suits people in the Black Country or west Birmingham who want a regional firm with a solicitor advocate leading the team.
Lawyers
Stephen Hamblett, Solicitor Advocate and Head of Crime
Glenn Cook, Associate Solicitor
Amanda Jenkins, Solicitor
Elle-May Macey, Solicitor
Areas of criminal law handled
Pre-charge representation
Serious crime
Robbery
GBH and assault
Cyber crime
Criminal damage
Stalking and harassment
Fraud
Other details
Other offices
Merry Hill, Dudley, Kingswinford, Walsall, Worcester, Cheltenham and London
Advice on public funding at the first meeting; legal aid is means tested. Fixed fees where possible for private clients, with advance notice of charges. 24 hour helpline linked from the site; general line 0345 894 1622.
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Cartwright King is a national firm that calls itself a leading provider of legal aid criminal defence, and says most of its cases involve criminal charges. In Birmingham it runs a fraud defence team with its own city number, covering cyber crime, bribery, investment fraud and HMRC investigations. For other criminal matters, ask which office and lawyer would take the case. It suits people facing a fraud or financial crime investigation who may qualify for legal aid.
Also worth knowing
The firm says it holds the Criminal Litigation accreditation and the Specialist Quality Mark.
Lawyers
The firm's site does not say which office these lawyers work from.
Laura Smith, Head of Corporate and Financial Crime
James Bainbridge, Head of Crown Court
Areas of criminal law handled
Fraud defence
Cyber crime and internet fraud
Bribery and corruption
Insurance fraud
Investment fraud
HMRC tax investigations
Police station advice
Interviews under caution
Crown Court defence
Criminal appeals
Extradition
Other details
Other offices
Offices across England including Wolverhampton, Worcester, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Manchester and London
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with an office in Birmingham that do criminal defence as a main part of their work. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026, checked it says it is regulated by the SRA, and wrote the description ourselves. Accreditations and first consultation terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. Google ratings are shown with the date we checked them, where we have them. You can check any solicitor or firm on the SRA Solicitors Register.
No firm pays for its place on this list, and the order is our own.
This page is general information, not legal advice. The law is as published on legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK, the Sentencing Council and the court finder service in October 2026, and applies in England and Wales.
At the police station: your right to free advice
If you're held at a police station, you can ask to speak to a solicitor privately at any time. GOV.UK puts it plainly: you have the right to free legal advice if you're questioned at a police station. The custody officer must explain your rights, including free advice, having someone told where you are, and medical help if you feel ill.
Who you get: the police contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre. You can ask for the duty solicitor, who is available 24 hours a day and independent of the police, or name a firm you want
Phone advice: for less serious matters you may be offered free advice by phone instead of a solicitor in person
Delays: police can only delay access to a solicitor for an indictable offence, with a superintendent's authority, and you must be allowed to see one within 36 hours
Under 18 or vulnerable: the police must find an appropriate adult, and you can speak to them privately at any time
Voluntary interviews: if you attend without being arrested, you can leave unless you're arrested, and you're still entitled to free legal advice
The caution is: "You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence." Whether to answer questions, give a prepared statement or say nothing is exactly the call a solicitor should help you make before the interview starts.
Police can usually hold you for 24 hours without charge. For an indictable offence a superintendent can extend that to 36 hours, and a magistrates' court can authorise more, but never beyond 96 hours in total. Terrorism and national security cases have a 14 day limit.
After the interview: charge, bail or release under investigation
Once police have finished questioning, the custody officer decides what happens next. There are four main outcomes.
Outcome
What it means
Charged
You'll be given a court date, and may be released on bail with conditions, such as a curfew
Released on police bail
Not charged yet, but you must return when asked. Bail usually lasts 3 months at first. An inspector can extend it to 6 months and a superintendent to 9 months. After that, a further extension needs a magistrates' court, which can extend it to 12 months and in some cases 18 or 24 months, or in a case the Director of Public Prosecutions designates as exceptionally complex, a very senior officer. In FCA, HMRC, NCA and SFO cases, a senior officer of that body can extend it to 12 months.
Released under investigation
You can go home with no conditions, but the investigation carries on and you could be arrested or charged later
Caution
For minor offences, if you admit it and agree. A caution is not a conviction, but it can show on standard and enhanced DBS checks. A conditional caution comes with conditions, and breaking them can lead to a charge
The 3 month starting period for police bail has applied since 28 October 2022. In cases run by the FCA, HMRC, the NCA or the SFO it is 6 months. If you've been released under investigation or on bail, a solicitor can keep in touch with the officer in the case and, where it helps, put written representations forward before a charging decision is made.
Which court: Birmingham's criminal courts
Every criminal case starts in a magistrates' court. Where it ends up depends on the type of offence.
Type of offence
Where it's heard
Summary offences
Magistrates' court. Maximum of 6 months' prison for one offence
Either way offences
Magistrates' court or the Crown Court. Magistrates can give up to 12 months' prison for one either way offence, a limit in force since 18 November 2024. If magistrates agree to hear it, you can still choose a Crown Court jury trial
Indictable only offences, the most serious crimes
Always sent to the Crown Court, where a jury decides guilt and a judge passes sentence
Birmingham Magistrates' Court is at the Victoria Law Courts, Corporation Street, Birmingham, B4 6QA. It deals with criminal cases, including Single Justice Procedure cases.
Birmingham Youth Court sits in the same building, the Victoria Law Courts on Corporation Street. Youth courts deal with 10 to 17 year olds. There's no jury, and the public generally can't attend. Very serious youth cases, such as murder, go to the Crown Court.
Birmingham Crown Court is at the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, 1 Newton Street, Birmingham, B4 7NA. It hears trials and sentencing for serious cases, and appeals from the magistrates' court.
Prosecutions in Birmingham are brought by CPS West Midlands.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill would remove the right to choose a Crown Court jury trial for either way offences. As of 25 October 2026 it is still going through Parliament and is not law.
Legal aid for criminal cases
Police station advice is free. For representation in court, you need a grant of criminal legal aid, which depends on a means test and an interests of justice test. A solicitor will usually check whether you qualify and make the application for you.
Automatic on means: if you're on Universal Credit, Income Support, income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Guarantee Credit or income related Employment and Support Allowance. You still have to pass the interests of justice test
Magistrates' court: adjusted annual income of £12,475 or less is funded, and £22,325 or more is not. In between, a full means test applies, and disposable income above £3,398 means no funding
Crown Court trials: household disposable income of £37,500 or more means you aren't eligible. If your disposable income is over £3,398, you may be asked to pay 90% of it for up to 6 months, refunded with 2% interest if you're acquitted. If you're convicted, you may also have to pay towards the costs from capital
Under 18s: since 3 August 2023, under 18s aren't means tested for criminal advice and assistance or advocacy assistance
If you don't qualify, or would rather pay, several firms on this list act privately. Ask about costs at the start and get them in writing.
Sentencing, guilty pleas and the Sentencing Act 2026
Under the Sentencing Council's guideline, the reduction for a guilty plea depends on when you make it.
When you plead guilty
Maximum reduction
At the first stage of proceedings
One third
After the first stage
One quarter, sliding down from there
On the first day of trial
One tenth
During the trial
Less again, possibly none
The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026. Parts of it are now in force:
22 March 2026: for adults convicted on or after this date, a prison term of 12 months or less must be suspended unless there are exceptional circumstances. It doesn't apply if you're already in custody, if consecutive terms add up to more than 12 months, if you offended while under a community order or suspended sentence order, if you're being re-sentenced for an offence covered by one, if the offence is closely connected with breaching a court order, or if suspending would put a particular person at significant risk of harm. Courts deciding bail must also now consider whether a defendant is pregnant, a primary carer or a victim of domestic abuse
11 May 2026: unpaid work no longer has to be finished within 12 months, and community orders can be ended early by the probation officer once the person has complied with all the requirements
1 October 2026: new community order requirements, including bans on driving, attending public events and entering pubs or bars. They only apply to offences committed on or after that date
1 October 2026: most adults serving a standard determinate (fixed length) sentence are released automatically at the one third point, rather than at 40% or halfway. This doesn't apply to excluded offences, including manslaughter, rape, listed child sex offences and causing death by driving. Some people serving sentences for serious violent or sexual offences now reach release at the halfway point instead of two thirds. People already in prison move across in stages between 1 October 2026 and 8 June 2027, depending on sentence length. Those who were on home detention curfew on 1 October 2026 move across on 12 October 2027
5 October 2026: judges must say in open court when they find an offence involved domestic abuse
Earning a reduction in unpaid work hours for good compliance doesn't start until 18 January 2027.
Criminal records and when they're spent
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, most convictions become spent after a set period. A basic DBS check only shows convictions and conditional cautions that are unspent.
Outcome
Spent after (18 or over)
Spent after (under 18)
Simple caution
Straight away
Straight away
Conditional caution
3 months, or when it ends if sooner
3 months, or when it ends if sooner
Fine
12 months from conviction
6 months
Community order or youth rehabilitation order
When the order ends, or 2 years from conviction if it has no end date
When the order ends, or 2 years from conviction if it has no end date
Prison of 1 year or less
12 months after the sentence ends, including licence
6 months
Prison over 1 year, up to 4 years
4 years after the sentence ends
2 years
Prison over 4 years
7 years after the sentence ends
42 months
Some sentences are never spent, including life sentences and sentences over 4 years for serious violent, sexual and terrorism offences. Standard and enhanced DBS checks can show more, including cautions.
If you're unhappy with a magistrates' court conviction or sentence, you usually have 15 working days from sentence to appeal to the Crown Court.
Birmingham criminal law: common questions
Is a solicitor at the police station free?
Yes. GOV.UK says you have the right to free legal advice if you're questioned at a police station. You can ask for the duty solicitor, who is available 24 hours a day and independent of the police, or ask for a firm you choose. For less serious matters the advice may be given by phone.
How long can the police keep me without charge?
Usually up to 24 hours from when you arrive at the police station. For an indictable offence a superintendent can extend this to 36 hours, and a magistrates' court can authorise further detention up to a maximum of 96 hours. Terrorism and national security cases can run to 14 days.
What does released under investigation mean?
You're free to go home with no conditions, but the police haven't finished. You could still be arrested or charged later. It's different from police bail, where you have to come back when asked and there are time limits on how long bail can last.
Where will my case be heard in Birmingham?
Almost every case starts at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, Victoria Law Courts, Corporation Street, B4 6QA. Under 18s go to the Youth Court in the same building. Serious cases go to Birmingham Crown Court, Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, 1 Newton Street, B4 7NA.
Can I still choose a jury trial?
Yes, for an either way offence. Magistrates can keep the case and give up to 12 months' prison for one offence, but you can choose a Crown Court jury trial instead. The Courts and Tribunals Bill would remove that choice, but as of 25 October 2026 it isn't law.
How much off my sentence do I get for pleading guilty?
Up to one third if you indicate a guilty plea at the first stage of proceedings. After that the maximum drops to one quarter, then to one tenth on the first day of trial, and less again, possibly nothing, once the trial is under way. Special rules apply to murder.
Will I go to prison for a short sentence?
If you're an adult convicted on or after 22 March 2026 and the court decides on a prison term of 12 months or less, it must suspend it unless there are exceptional circumstances. The rule doesn't apply in some cases, including where you're already in custody, consecutive terms total more than 12 months, you offended while under a community order or suspended sentence order, the offence is closely connected with breaching a court order, or a particular person would be at significant risk of harm.
