The PDS has a highly experienced Team of Advocates, including K.Cs., Junior Counsel and Solicitors with Higher Rights of Advocacy.
Some of the ways in which we are able to assist and support the Courts are:-
- As Court Appointed Advocates under the provisions of section 38 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
- To take on cases where no other Defence Advocate can be found or is available.
- To take over cases where Defence Advocates have been ‘sacked’ or have had to withdraw and no one else can be found to continue with the cases, thereby enabling hearings to proceed to a conclusion.
Our Clerking Team has frequently been contacted by Judges, Listing Officers and other court staff with a variety of different problems and questions and has been able to provide innovative solutions so as to enable the administration of justice to proceed smoothly.
Robin Driscoll, Charlotte Forey, and Emily Radford are the PDS Clerking Team and will be able to assist with any enquiries or request for PDS assistance:
Telephone: 020 3334 4253 / 020 3334 6163
Email: pdsassistance@justice.gov.uk
Useful Documents
Section 38 (S38) Protocol Flowchart