“A firm dedicated to the old-fashioned virtue of conscientious hard work in pursuit of their clients interests”.
Legal 500 – Ranked as Tier 1 (Crime), Independent Legal Directory
Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors is one of the leading firms where your case has a political dimension. This can occur if you are arrested at a protest or direct action or if you are being stopped or punished for what you have said. You might be a journalist reporting on events or even a politician or political/trade union activist that is in need of a lawyer. Each of these situations requires a lawyer who understands the different political considerations involved and can use their skills to help the client navigate the issues
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Many of our lawyers are active in politics or wider social justice causes themselves. As well as our technical knowledge of the law, we understand what our clients seek to achieve and how they seek to achieve it. . We work collaboratively and innovatively with our colleagues in the Civil Liberties & Human Rights team to achieve our clients objectives.
We have been involved in the most high profile protests in the last 10 years including Extinction Rebellion (protest in central London about climate crisis), Heathrow 13 (protest about 3rd runway and environmental concerns), animal rights (SHAC), Occupy, anti- austerity and trade union marches. We make a difference as we are experts in the areas where we know it makes a difference to your case.
On each occasion, prosecution cases need to be forensically analysed to determine whether the police were using their powers properly and whether those powers were consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights. We are experts in holding the police to account in public order situations and ensuring that our client’s fundamental human rights are protected.
Direct Action cases such as Stansted 15 (seeking to prevent people being unlawfully deported by the Government on Charter flights where those people’s lives were at risk on return) or where activists sought to prevent promotion of torture and other unlawful weapons at the DSEI arms fair have their own challenges. Expertise in using justification or necessity defences and showing that the activists were acting in a reasonable and proportionate way to prevent a greater harm from occurring.
HJA also acts in the niche area where your right to free speech is being threatened by other state bodies. For example, we have acted where students have been told they will face disciplinary proceedings for protesting or voicing their opinion and where other institutions take action because of certain held beliefs. This requires lawyers that specialise in European Human Rights but also a background in litigation.
As well as protestors or activists, others can be caught up in political actions. In particular, we have acted for journalists who have been covering events and sought to protect and enhance the principle of a free press. Our knowledge and personal commitment to these principles has allowed us to join fights against censorship and to scrutinize police actions in high profile situations.
We have also advised politicians who are being investigated themselves. We have had notable success in these areas and we understand that in these cases, how the defence is conducted is as important as the legal outcome and our clients value our nuanced and discreet approach. We know that for many of our clients, their reputation during an investigation is almost as important as the outcome itself.
Since 2011, Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors has acted for protestors against the arms trade in the Excel Centre at the bi-annual Arms Fair. Despite hundreds of arrests and prosecutions, Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors have secured acquittals on the vast majority of occasions.
Stansted 15. Acted for all 15 defendants in a joint action by End Deportations, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants and Plane Stupid. Action sought to prevent the deportation of migrants to unsafe countries. Clients have had their conviction of “endangering safety at a public airport”, a terror related offence, quashed by the Court of Appeal.
FM 145 – Acted for a number of clients in the UK UNCUT occupation of Fortnum and Mason during the anti- austerity marches. Secured the first acquittals in the case, ending with all but one Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors client being acquitted.
Acted for a peer during the expenses scandal. Considering the parliamentary system of expenses and rules – with minimum sentence imposed as a result.
Right to Free Speech
Acted for 2 journalists who were covering a demonstration in central London. Cases dropped after representations based on the right to free speech.
Our top ranking team have years of experience representing the innocent. We stand up to the prosecution who will always be represented by an experienced solicitor or barrister. We know how to fight and win cases.
Representing you at the Police Station or in Court If you need urgent representation call us today. Share a few details with us and we’ll let you know how we can help you.
If you are calling outside our offices hours (9:30am to 5:30pm) call our free phone 24 telephone 0844 8480 222. There will always be someone at the other end of the telephone to assist you.
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