PDS Lexcel accreditation
On 1st February 2018 we announced that the Public Defender Service (PDS) had been awarded Lexcel accreditation; an award only given to those in the legal profession able to demonstrate the highest standards of practice management and client care.
Such a quality mark is subject to annual review and assessment to ensure that the high standards are maintained. The initial assessment concluded that the PDS was committed to providing an ‘excellent level of client care’. The annual maintenance visit in December 2018 concluded that this had been maintained: ‘there is an excellent level of client care across the PDS’.
The PDS continues to be a provider of high quality, committed representation to those facing criminal investigations or proceedings, and will always strive to put our clients at the heart of the case. Our solicitors and advocates provide representation at all stages of a criminal case and we welcome instructions from external providers. To enquire about the availability of advocates and to provide instructions, please contact our Senior Clerk, Robin Driscoll, on 020 3334 4253/020 3334 6163, or email pdsclerks@justice.gov.uk.