Criminal Defence Solicitors & Barristers
Appeals
Professional representation to appeal any previous court decisions
What are Appeals?
Appeals are legal requests to have a higher court review your case because you believe a mistake was made during your trial or sentencing. In the UK, you do not have a right to an appeal just because you are unhappy with the result; you must prove that the original decision was legally wrong or unfair.
A solicitor helps by finding errors made by the judge, identifying where the law was misapplied, or presenting new evidence. They represent you in a higher court to argue that your conviction should be overturned or your punishment reduced.
Book an initial consultation
We underdstand it can be a nervous time when appealing a decision that has already gone against you in the past. Don't feel like you need to sit with this alone, book a free initial consultation to walk us through your sitation and we'll do our utmost to provide assistance or clarity.
Types of Appeals
Depending on the type of appeal, you may require a tailored approach. Contact us to understand the charges further, and to work with us on your case.
Appeal Against Conviction
Challenging the decision that you are guilty of the crime
Appeal Against Sentence
Accepting the guilty verdict but challenging the severity of the punishment
What You Can Expect
The following steps are a general guidance and not an exact depiction, all cases are unique and will be treated as such. At Astons Law we commit to providing you the best service for your individual case requirements.
Initial assessment
We review the trial transcripts and the judge’s notes. We will look for a ground of appeal, this is a specific legal error that makes the original result unsafe or unfair.
Evidence scrutiny
We look for fresh evidence that was not available during your trial. If we find something new and important, it can be used to show the original verdict was likely wrong.
Procedure challenge
We would check if your rights were protected during the trial. For example, if your previous lawyer missed a major point or if the prosecution acted unfairly, we can use this to challenge the result.
Court representation
We apply for leave to appeal (permission). If granted, we will argue your case before senior judges in a higher court, such as the Crown Court or the Court of Appeal.
From investigation to outcome, We're with you every step
From the moment you contact Astons Law, you're no longer facing this alone. We will guide you through every stage with clarity and purpose.
Addressing concerns and common questions
The information below is for educational purposes, and not legal advice, all cases are unique and should be treated as such.
Not exactly. You must show a legal reason why the trial was unfair or why the judge’s instructions to the jury were incorrect.
Yes, and it is very strict. You usually have only 21 days for Magistrates' Court cases and 28 days for Crown Court cases from the date of the decision.
While rare, a higher court can increase a sentence if they think the appeal had no merit, or they can order loss of time (prison days not counting towards your sentence).
This is evidence that was not known at the time of your trial. To be used in an appeal, it must be reliable and capable of changing the outcome of the case.
For a sentence appeal, you often don't need to be there. For a conviction appeal, you usually attend, but there is no new jury; senior judges decide the case.
This means the higher court has cancelled the conviction. Legally, it is as if you were never found guilty of that specific crime.
Usually, you only get one chance to appeal. If you lose, you can only try again if entirely new and significant evidence is found much later.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is an independent body that investigates "miscarriages of justice" for people who have already finished the normal appeal process.