Focused advice in serious cases.

Deal with the immediate priorities

A serious allegation can affect everyone around you. Before trying to answer every possible question about the future, establish the immediate position: where the person is, whether an interview is planned, which documents have been issued and when the next decision will be made.

For urgent police station assistance, call 07442 505012. For an existing investigation or court case, contact the office and explain the current stage.

Preparation built around the evidence

AB Mackenzie advises on serious criminal matters and complex proceedings. Depending on the case, preparation can require close attention to documentary records, accounts from different people and the sequence of events.

Give your solicitor a full account, including points you find difficult to discuss. Identifying an issue early is more useful than allowing an important detail to emerge unexpectedly.

Support for family members

If you are contacting the firm for someone else, provide accurate contact and custody details. The team will explain how instructions can be taken and what information can be shared with you. A family member’s wish to help does not remove the client’s confidentiality.

Understand each stage

Ask what the next hearing or appointment is intended to address, what material is still needed and how updates will be given. The practical timetable of an individual case cannot be predicted reliably from an online description.

Read about court representation or contact the team to discuss the situation.

Keep communication organised

Agree a reliable contact number and tell the team if it changes. If you need a family member to help with practical arrangements, discuss what can be shared and with whom. Clear arrangements reduce misunderstandings at a time when several people may be trying to assist.

Keep court and police documents together and retain the exact wording of any conditions. If something becomes difficult to comply with, raise it promptly with your solicitor. Do not make your own assumptions about changing an arrangement.

Some questions cannot be answered until further material is available. Ask what remains outstanding and when the position is next expected to be reviewed.