Lawyers Are Not Investigators For The State Edward Grange Published in The Law Society Gazette

When a defendant absconds, attention can quickly turn to the lawyers left behind. But what responsibility does a defence solicitor have for a client’s actions – and where should that responsibility end?

R (Bark Solicitors Company Limited) v Worcester Crown Court highlighted the important question of where that line should be drawn, including whether solicitors should be expected to assist the authorities in locating a client who has gone abroad.

Edward Grange, Partner at Corker Binning, considers what can reasonably be expected of defence lawyers and the importance of protecting their role within the criminal justice system in the Law Society Gazette.

“The criminal justice system is entitled to expect honesty and professional integrity from defence lawyers,” he says. “It is not entitled to conscript them.”

Read Edward’s full article here: The Law Society Gazette