If you are Magistrates’ Court custody duty solicitor and unable to attend the Court due to illness/self-isolation/emergency etc please let the Court know in good time so that another duty solicitor can be found/appointed/contacted as early as possible.
Try not to leave it until the last minute.

Magistrates’ Courts should keep an emergency list of duty solicitors who live close to the Court and can be asked to attend at short notice.

Defence solicitors who deal with a police station matter (and ‘sign’ legal aid forms) should arrange cover for a first appearance, not leave it for the custody duty solicitor to cover, who will get legal aid forms signed which is a waste if the first solicitor, unknown to the duty solicitor, has applied for legal aid.
Yes, you save the agency fee, but that is unfair on the duty solicitor who will open a file and apply to the LAA.
This has happened more frequently and, in London, District Judges are aware of this unpleasant practice and noting the Firms behaving like this.
It is both unprofessional and unpleasant.

Mini-rant over.

Julian Young

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Julian Young

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