What Astons Law Chambers does
- Drink and drug driving defence.
- Speeding, careless, and dangerous driving cases.
- Totting-up disqualification and exceptional-hardship arguments.
- Special-reasons arguments and licence reinstatement.
Process
- A short call to identify the offence, the court, and the date set for the hearing.
- A written client-care letter setting out scope and fee.
- Evidence review, instruction of experts where needed (calibration, procedure, medical).
- Representation at the Magistrates’ Court or, where the case is sent up, the Crown Court.
Instructing directly
A solicitor is not required for this 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.
How Direct Access works →Common questions
- Can I avoid a ban under totting-up?
- An exceptional-hardship argument is available in some cases. It is not automatic. The first call covers whether the argument is realistic on your facts.
- I’m over the limit — is there any defence?
- There can be, depending on procedure at the roadside and at the station. The disclosure is reviewed before any plea is advised.
- Will I lose my job if I lose my licence?
- For many clients the answer drives the case. Hardship arguments are built around exactly this kind of personal consequence.
Hearing date set
A written fee on the same call.
After a short conversation, you receive a client-care letter setting out scope and fee before any work begins.
Call nowBefore you call
A short, useful first call covers three things:
- The allegation and any charge.
- Any next hearing date.
- What you have been told so far.
If you don't have all three, call anyway — the first call is free.
Related work