What is Appeals?
A criminal appeal challenges a conviction or a sentence after the case has been decided. Appeals from the Magistrates’ Court go to the Crown Court, and appeals from the Crown Court go to the Court of Appeal. The time to appeal is short and starts on the day of the decision.
Astons Law Chambers serves as the entity acting as criminal defence support provided by Barrister Ghulam Humayun.
Time-limited
Appeal time runs from the day of the decision.
Early instruction matters. Transcripts and trial papers take time to obtain and review.
How an appeal works
An appeal challenges a conviction or a sentence after the case has ended. A decision of the Magistrates’ Court can be appealed to the Crown Court, which hears the matter again in full. An appeal from the Crown Court goes to the Court of Appeal and first needs permission.
The time to appeal is short and runs from the day of the decision, so it is worth acting quickly even if the trial papers are not yet to hand. An appeal also carries risk: the Crown Court can increase a sentence on a rehearing, and an unsuccessful appeal can carry costs.
What an appeal has to show
An appeal is not a chance to run the trial again. It has to identify something that went wrong: an error of law, a misdirection to the jury, or a procedural failure that makes the conviction unsafe.
A sentence appeal has to show the sentence was wrong in principle or well outside the proper range. The starting point is a hard look at the transcript, the summing-up, and the papers to see whether a ground exists.
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Common questions
- How long do I have to appeal?
- Time limits are short and start running on the day of the decision. Call before the time runs — grounds can be drafted in time even if the papers are not yet available.
- Can I appeal just the sentence?
- Yes. Sentence-only appeals are common. Grounds depend on the principles applied and the facts.
- My trial lawyer said an appeal isn’t worth it — is that final?
- No. A second opinion on prospects is part of the work.
Astons Law Chambers is authorised under the Bar Standards Board's Public Access scheme to accept instructions directly from members of the public. The practice is also authorised to conduct litigation, so the case can be run end-to-end without a separate solicitor. Suitability is assessed during the first call; where a solicitor is needed, Astons Law Chambers will say so and refer where useful.
For matters that qualify for public funding, see how legal aid works at Astons Law Chambers — eligible cases are referred to a partner solicitor firm at no cost.
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