Stevens Solicitors and Advocates

Staying in touch during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic

In response to the current health advice on reducing the risk of spreading the virus, we will be operating with reduced staff until further notice. During this time, we will continue to cover all court and police station requests for help and continue to offer our services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you require urgent advice or assistance, then please contact our out of hours emergency number on 01159 577 577.  Alternatively call 01782 343353 during normal office hours (9am-5pm) and your call will be directed to one of our experienced staff members.

We set out below some more detailed information Question and Answer format:

Are Stevens Solicitors still open for business?

Yes – we remain open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We will continue to represent clients at court and in police stations.

Are your offices currently open?

Our Head Office at Longton & our office in Burslem remain open for emergency callers although our other offices are now closed. This is both for your protection and the protection of our staff. Access at Longton and Burslem will be restricted until staff have satisfied various safety checks.

Can I still make an appointment?

Yes, appointments can be made for both new and existing clients. You will be able to speak to us on the phone in the first instance and then agree what is the best way that we can advise and assist you.

We are also offering on-line appointments using either Microsoft Teams, or Zoom, please contact us for more information.

How do I contact the person dealing with my case?

The individual you wish to speak with may not be immediately available but staff on duty will have access to your file and be able to advise and assist you or arrange for a call back. Our prison law department remains fully operational as does our POCA department.

Do I need to attend court during the Coronavirus pandemic?

If you have been given a court hearing date, then you must attend as required unless specifically advised to the contrary. However, if you are unwell or self-isolating, then your case may be adjourned. We would advise you to contact us prior to any hearing so that we can advise you more directly.

Should I attend the police station to answer my police bail?

Most police station appointments are proceeding as arranged. Please contact us if you are unwell or self-isolating or are otherwise uncertain about arrangements. We will endeavour to contact the police on your behalf to clarify proposed actions. If you hear from the police direct, please contact us for further advice and assistance since we may be unaware of what they have told you.

Can I visit a family member or friend in prison?

All visits, both legal and family, to UK prisons have been suspended during the current crisis. We will update this page if there is any change to this position, but it is likely that the restriction on movement will continue for some time to come. For further information on how you can make contact with somebody in prison see the government website on Prisons & Probation here:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice/prisons-probation

It may be possible for us to contact some of our clients in prison via video link, but this facility is severely restricted and suspended altogether at some prisons.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE USE OF OUR 24 HOUR EMERGENCY HELPLINE ON:

01159 577 577

Stevens Solicitors is one of the largest criminal defence firms in the country. With over 25 years’ experience, we specialise exclusively in criminal defence work. When you instruct Stevens Solicitors you can therefore be certain that every member of staff you speak to is an expert in their field. We spend every day working to assist clients who find themselves in a similar situation to you. With offices across the Midlands, we are present daily at a large number of police stations, courts and prisons in that area and are also able to deal with cases across England and Wales. We know that being accused of a criminal offence can be a distressing experience and that’s why it’s important to choose the right firm of solicitors to defend you. You can rest assured that from the moment you instruct us, our team will be working together to support you through the process and to get the best result for you. It is very important that your solicitor is involved at the earliest opportunity to help present your case and that is why our team are on-call 24 hours per day to assist. If you are going to be interviewed at a police station then your representation will always be free of charge to you. If you already have a court date you may be eligible for legal aid – we will always guide you through the application process to ensure, if possible, that you are represented free of charge to you. In the circumstances that you are not eligible for Legal Aid we will continue to represent you on a private basis, please see our funding page for full details