About Lara Ideo
Lara is a solicitor in Hodge Jones & Allen’s Criminal Defence team. She qualified as a solicitor in October 2021 and joined HJA in December 2023 from a well-respected South London law firm. She completed her Police Station Accreditation in 2019, and her Magistrates’ Court Duty Qualification in 2022.
Lara has a particular interest in representing vulnerable clients, and has experience assisting young people and clients diagnosed with complex mental health conditions, learning difficulties and personality disorders.
Lara regularly represents clients in magistrates’ courts for all types of hearings, including trials. She also has extensive experience representing clients in interviews conducted under caution, by the police or government agencies such as the DWP or HMRC.
Lara is a tenacious litigator who has prepared cases for trial in both magistrates’ and Crown Court. She has dealt with a wide range of allegations, with particular expertise dealing with serious sexual offences and violent crime. She takes a detailed and thorough approach to the preparation of cases, leaving no stone unturned. She often challenges the prosecution’s decision to prosecute and has a history of success in persuading authorities to discontinue proceedings, either on evidential or public interest grounds.
Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, Lara worked as a paralegal in Criminal Defence. During her training contract she also completed a seat in prison law, representing clients in adjudications and Parole Board hearings.
Notable Cases
- R v P (2023): Litigated the case of a young man accused of two offences of rape and several other sexual offences against a single complainant. A consent defence was advanced and the defendant was acquitted of all charges.
- R v S (2023): Successfully represented a client in an appeal at the magistrates’ court against the police’s refusal to remove his notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act.
- R v C (2023): Represented a client in opposing an application for a Closure Order. Whilst the order was granted in part, Lara was successful in persuading the Court to only exclude others from the premises, allowing her client to continue residing in his home.
Memberships
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers
- London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA)
Career & Education
Career
- 2023 – present: Solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen
- 2021 – 2023: Solicitor at GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates
- 2020 – 2021: Trainee Solicitor at GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates
- 2018 – 2020: Paralegal at GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates
- 2018: Paralegal at Bindmans LLP
- 2015 – 2017: Volunteer Trainee Advisor and Gateway Assessor at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Languages
Lara speaks fluent Italian and conversational French.
Education
- 2022: Magistrates’ Court Duty Qualification
- 2019: Police Station Accreditation
- 2016 – 2017: Legal Practice Course, BPP Law School, Distinction
- 2015 – 2016: Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School, Commendation
- 2010 – 2013: BA (Hons) English Literature, University of Cambridge, Homerton College, 2:1
