In the United Kingdom, barristers are legal professionals that specialize in courtroom advocacy under instruction from solicitors or other legal professionals. Barristers also advise their professional counterparts who are mainly solicitors.
Criminal defence barristers are usually hired due to their incisive legal knowledge especially because they are able to read into the facts of a particular case and can determine its chances when presented in court.
A typical barrister in the UK operates from a chamber. This is a collective arrangement between barristers that operate independently under the guidance of Queens Counsel. Every barrister contributes in the running and management of a chamber.
Barristers play a critical role of recruiting pupils as well as other tenants to ensure continuity of the entity. Barristers hired by organizations play a critical role in the development of legal strategy and policy.
Criminal cases can be complicated legal proceedings full of multiple legal requirements. Depending on how a case is handled in court, the outcome can be a jail sentence, criminal record, or an acquittal. Obviously, an acquittal is the ideal outcome, but it is not a realistic prospect in many cases.
The outcome of a criminal case has major ramifications for both the accused as well as the immediate family and community at large.
Due to this level of significance in the proceedings it is important to engage the services of a barrister. Hiring a barrister ensures efficacy in the courtroom proceedings and his or her expertise in weighing the merits of a case before presentation before a court is critical.
Barristers have to undergo several years of academic and vocational training then specialization in a particular area of the law. Barristers are trained to become highly skilled legal professionals with the ability to interpret the law, advise on legal strategy, and offer legal representation in court to obtain the best results possible for their clients.
Direct access barristers on the other hand operate from chambers headed by the Queens Counsel. They are known for their in-depth knowledge of the law, courtroom advocacy, and the rules of evidence as well as its applications to law.
Final Thoughts
The duties of criminal defence barristers are diverse and will vary from one jurisdiction to the next. However, the only thing that remains constant is the critical role that they play in the dispensing of justice. It is due to this reason that they are an important component of the justice system.