Author page: MartinDomm

Criminal law is a dynamic and enthralling branch of law attractive to many who are studying to become a barrister or solicitor.

Representing your client in court cases, and being available at all hours of the day and night, is not for everyone, but for those who make it, being a criminal lawyer is a rewarding and exciting role.

This is an incredibly important job as criminal lawyers are a vital cog in the machine of the UK legal system and, therefore, as you may expect becoming a criminal solicitor is a tough and challenging process.

Most people do so through the more traditional route of an undergraduate degree followed by law school but this is not the only way to qualify as a solicitor or barrister and in this article we will look at some of the different options available to you.

Here are some of the most important steps that can help you become a criminal lawyer in the UK:

Law Degrees

In most scenarios, the first step towards becoming a criminal lawyer is to take a degree in law.

For those interested in becoming a criminal lawyer this will usually involve a degree with a focus on criminal justice in particular.

However, if you are already completing an undergraduate degree of some kind and are interested in switching careers, don’t panic, you might not need to start all over again.

It is possible to take a conversion course into law following a degree in a different subject so that you do not need to redo your entire degree, or you could apply for a paralegal apprenticeship.

In Scotland, this conversion course is called a Graduate Entry or Accelerated LLB whilst a similar course in England and Wales is known as a Graduate Diploma in Law.

If you are looking to secure a training contract with a respected firm of solicitors, you may be required to hold an LLM in Criminal Law and many take this time to gain this qualification.

Become a Solicitor, Advocate, or Barrister

Know you have learned much of the theory around criminal law it is time to qualify as a solicitor or barrister. In Scotland, someone with the same rights as a barrister is known as an advocate.

To do so, you will need to successfully complete a Legal Practice Course and see out a training contract with a firm of solicitors.

For obvious reasons, if you are looking to pursue a career as Aamer Anwar Criminal Lawyer you should look to secure a training contract with a firm who handles a lot of criminal cases and has a number of highly respected criminal lawyers working for them.

If you wish to become a barrister you will also need to complete the Bar Professional Training Course, as well as a pupillage.

Get the relevant work experience

It is all very well to say that you need to get a training contract or a pupillage but with the popularity of criminal law rising extremely quickly, these positions are extremely competitive.

To make yourself stand out and help you appear attractive to the law firms that you want to work at most, you will need to get the relevant work experience.

Luckily there will be many opportunities to do this throughout your time at university, with most university law societies conducting pro bono work.

Networking is also essential when starting out in law so make sure to build up your contacts when on placement, training, or providing legal advice; you never know when you might need them.

There is no sugar coating it, law is a competitive field, and criminal law even more so, so you are going to have to work extremely hard to make it, but if you do so, the rewards will be just as great.

Apply for the right positions

After qualifying as a lawyer, it can be tempting to apply for every and any position advertised at local law firms, but your first role could play a major factor in your future career path.

If you are looking to become a successful criminal lawyer, it is essential to get a role as a fire of solicitors who specialise in criminal law.

This will set you up perfectly for progression within the firm and open up a world of opportunities in the future such as a move to public service for the Crown Prosecution Service or to set up your own firm.

Many law firms never even advertise the roles they have available and will instead pick solely from their pool of existing interns so make sure that even if you are only working part-time in a training capacity, you are doing so in a field that you are hoping to progress into in the future.

Central FS are Scotland’s leading provider of security solutions and we have collated a list of the best ways to prevent your home being the target of burglary.

Install High Quality Locks

Many burglars are proficient in lockpicking and breaking through poorly constructed doors and windows.

For this reason, it is vital that you install high quality locks on your home’s doors and windows to make gaining entry a more challenging task.

Installing new windows and doors with complex locking systems may appear to be an expense you could do without, however, the peace of mind that making your home more secure offers to you and your family really is invaluable.

It is also essential that you regularly check to make sure that you have locked your windows and doors as even the best lock in the world won’t help if it has been left unlocked.

Often simply locking your doors is enough in itself to prevent a burglary as many opportunist thieves will go around looking for doors and windows left unlocked and will move on once they realise that your home is secure.

Install a Monitored Burglar Alarm System

Installing a high-end monitored burglar alarm with a professional Alarm Companies Glasgow such as Central FS is the best way to guarantee an effective emergency response to security breaches 24/7 every day of the year.

When you choose a professionally monitored alarm, a team of security experts will monitor your alarm system, and should an activation be detected they will alert the police and attend the site to ensure that everything is as it should be.

Burglar alarms will also give off an audible warning to intruders in the form of a siren or in the case that 2-way speaker system is included in your set-up, the security firm monitoring your alarm will be able to communicate directly with the intruder, warning them to leave the premises.

If you are looking for a cheaper burglar alarm option, there are many different DIY units available in hardware stores and the like that involved simply setting up a few motion sensors close to entry points and are certainly better than having no alarm system in place at all.

However, these are easily unplugged and deactivated for a savvy burglar where as a professionally installed burglar alarm will be hardwired and backed-up to avoid malfunctions.

At Central, our expert installers will take extra care to make sure that your alarm system is installed somewhere well out of reach of potential criminals, and use their years of experience to place sensors in the best possible locations so nothing is left to chance when it comes to your security.

Install CCTV cameras

CCTV has been called the most effective deterrent against targeting a property by ex-burglars themselves.

This is due to the high risk of being identified and caught after the event as CCTV is critical to the police in the finding and convicting of burglars.

Despite this, only a very small, under 20%, percentage of Scottish homeowners have any form of CCTV on their property.

With so many properties not protected in this way, burglars will always be able to find an easier target than someone with CCTV installed meaning that the mere sight of your CCTV system will cause almost all potential criminals to swiftly move on.

At Central, we offer a wide range of different residential and commercial CCTV systems incorporating the latest in surveillance technology, including motion activation, low-light recording, and mobile monitoring via a smart device from anywhere in the world.

Install Lighting

Burglars are constantly on the lookout for properties that appear to be unoccupied.

Many people have motion activated outdoor lighting that can be effective in illuminating intruders when you are at home but will likely just be ignored if the burglar believes the property is empty.

However, installing indoor lights that are set on a timer when you leave the house is a great way to give passers-by the impression that someone is inside.

You can even set the timer switch to change the pattern of lights being activated every day to make the impression of ongoing everyday activity even more realistic.

Buy a Safe

By following the above methods you will make it extremely unlikely that you will be the target of burglary and even if you are that an intruder will get in and out without detection.

However, just in case, it is worth investing in a high quality safe to store your most treasured and valuable items.

If possible, you should have your safe professionally installed and secured to prevent easy removal.

Most modern safes are also fully fire resistant so the protection of your prized belongings will be two-fold with a safe in place.

If you’ve found yourself losing track over how many reminder letters and phone calls you’ve made trying to chase late payments, it might be time to investigate the kind of legal action you can take to start recovering debts.

While it is vital to strike a careful balance between a good relationship with clients and receiving a prompt payment for any goods or services you provide, in some cases it will be necessary to take legal action to ensure you receive the money you are owed. Many smaller businesses struggle with late payments and any missed invoices; therefore, getting the right advice and support is vital.

At oraclelaw.com, we provide expert services for debt recovery – from simple invoice recovery to important building contracts and loans.

In this article, we will explain the kind of legal action open to you when it comes to recovering debt and give you an idea of how you can take control of the situation you’re faced by when it comes to debt.

The Initial Step – Late Payment Reminder Letter

The first step you can and must take is to send to the client a late payment reminder, making clear to them that a payment is due and that they must pay the debt as soon as possible. You can follow this up with further letters making more forcible demands – usually within a set period of seven days. Failure to get a response to these letters should prompt you to send a formal letter making clear that you will issue a court proceeding to recover the money.

These letters should,

• Make clear just how much you’re owed
• What the money is for
• And what you have already done to try and secure the money

A letter should also include the following information

• Who is involved – for example, the names and addresses of yourself and the person who owes you money
• Properly dated copies of all relevant paperwork regarding the debt
• A date you expect the payment to be made by – usually within seven days
• A request for the debtor to explain any issues or disputes they have with your claims
• A clear statement of any steps you plan to take if the payment is not received

This approach is vital. You should always speak with the debtor or attempt to engage with them first before any contact is made.

Letters maximise the prospects you have of recovering the legal costs at the conclusion of the matter – but remember, there’s strict rules governing the kind of information that’s provided to debtors.

No response?

If you do not receive a response and the debt goes unpaid, then there are two options – court action or insolvency proceedings. You should be very careful before either of these is taken, and remember to consider,

• An overall cost-benefit analysis: is this going to be worth it?
• Are you likely to secure the payments via court action?
• How will this impact your future commercial relationship with the client?
• How much will taking legal action cost?

Mediation

Mediation is a good approach, and most courts will expect you to have undertaken mediation.

Either via a solicitor or debt recovery agency, you can attempt to mediate the situation. A solicitor will, for a fee, write a letter to the debtor and make clear that legal action will follow. A solicitor’s letter is often enough to end the matter, while a solicitor or debt recovery agency can give you fantastic legal advice on the matter.

Oracle Law can provide you with superb mediation help in handling the recovery of your debt.

If mediation fails, court action is often the next step.

Court Action

You can make claims against either an individual debtor or a commercial debtor. This requires the filling out of forms (which often necessitates the help of professionals) and the claims will be issued by the court to the debtor. The debtor can respond if they choose to and attempt to defend themselves.

If a claim is for less than £10,000, it is likely to take a lot longer for actions to proceed and furthermore, it is unlikely only the court fees and actual limited fixed costs will be recovered.

Enforcement

If a debtor doesn’t respond to a court claim or refuses to make the payment after the judgement has been obtained, it’s possible to take further action. This includes,

• An execution order against goods which are owned by the debtor
• An attachment of earnings order – diverting money directly from wages or earnings to pay back a debt
• A charging order, which means if any property is sold by the debtor, the proceeds will be used to pay off debt

Insolvency Proceedings

A commercial client who cannot pay back a debt of over £750 can be subject to insolvency – the threat of which often can force a debtor to pay immediately. If it is a commercial client, the company may go into liquidation and a debtor can be entitled to a dividend. Individual debtors may declare bankruptcy if the debt they owe is more than £5,000. In this case, their assets may be taken to pay the debts they have.

Oracle Law – Here to help

There’s a huge amount to navigate when it comes to recovering debt and a lot to try and deal with all on your own. Oracle law can help resolve the issue in the quickest, cleanest manner possible.

Installing a CCTV system is one of the best possible ways to protect your home against burglary and other property crimes.

Most criminals are opportunists looking for easy targets that present the least resistance and risk of being caught.

For this reason, most burglars will take one look at a property with a visible CCTV system installed, decide it isn’t worth the effort and move on elsewhere.

However, not all CCTV systems are as effective as others and here at Central FS, we have used our years of security experience to create this guide to the simplest ways that you can maximise the deterrent role of your CCTV cameras.

1. Increase visibility

Evidence has shown that the visible presence of CCTV cameras will deter many burglars from attempting to target your property.

This is only possible, however, if they are aware that you have a system in place, so you should ensure that your cameras are clearly visible from the front of your property whilst still being installed out of reach of potential criminals to avoid tampering. 

High up on the garage wall, your porch, or above your front door are all locations that are hard to miss when approaching your property and provide a suitable platform for your CCTV cameras.

When you install a CCTV system with a professional security firm, they will use their years of experience to advise on the most effective spots to place your cameras where they have the best chance of deterring intruders.

2. Install Signs

In some circumstances, the mere idea of a CCTV system being a possibility is enough o make burglars decide to move on from your property.

Visible signs on the entrance to your property broadcasting the existence of security cameras are a great way to make sure that criminals target your property simply because they don’t notice your cameras themselves.

3. Lights and Alarms

Letting a possible burglar know that they are being observed using motion detection technology is a great way to increase the chances that CCTV will deter them from attempting to enter your home for fear of being identified.

Many of the latest CCTV camera systems have spotlights or sirens built-in that when activated through smart intruder detection technology will provide an active deterrent to criminals.

Some domestic CCTV systems will shine a spotlight on anyone within its range or sound an alarm, making it clear to the target individual that they are under watch.

An alarm can also help to alert neighbours to an ongoing incident if your home is temporarily unoccupied who may be able to alert the police and even if criminals are not deterred from attempting to burgle your property there is a higher risk of them being caught in the act.

4. Night Vision and HD video

No matter what you do to make your CCTV a more effective deterrent, it is impossible to eliminate the chances of a burglar targeting your property.

For this reason, it is essential that you install a system that has the best chance of being able to identify individuals involved in the crime, to help track down and convict them after the event.

Only high quality CCTV footage that is time dated can be used as evidence in a court of law so it is vital that you use a respected and qualified professional company to install your CCTV whose cameras will meet the required standards.

Night vision is also key to effective video security as the majority of burglaries take place between the hours of 10pm and 3am.

5. Long-Lasting

The Scottish weather is notoriously unpredictable and the last thing you want is for a burglar to get away undetected as your CCTV was taken out of action by wind, rain, or snow.

You should always ensure that whatever CCTV system you install on your property is well suited to withstand whatever the elements throw at it 365 days of the year.

At Central FS our security experts will install our industry leading, highly durable, CCTV cameras in such a way that you can be assured of year-round protection and performance.

If extreme weather conditions do somehow cause an issue, we will be on hand to provide fast-response maintenance and repair services.

Contact Central FS Today

If you are serious about home security want to effectively deter criminals from targeting your home, contact Central FS for more information about our industry leading CCTV systems in the Glasgow area on 0141 530 1244, or info@centralfs.co.uk.

When you choose to have your security cameras installed with us, our expert technicians will utilise the latest in CCTV technology to help create a bespoke cost-effective solution that will provide maximum security for your home.

Prime Secure’s CCTV Towers are a superb option for large construction site properties. A CCTV Tower is a distinct visible deterrent, with many criminals and potential vandals avoiding any property that makes use of them – aware that they’ll increase the risk of prosecution given the visual evidence they can gather. They’re also excellent because they don’t require the same kind of infrastructure or utilities that other methods of security are reliant on, making them not only easy to set up, but easy to move around the property as required. Other benefits of Prime Secure’s CCTV Towers include,

• Remote access – our dedicated app allows you to access your camera feed at any time of day, from anywhere you might be, meaning you have constant access to a camera feed. This allows you to check for any suspicious activity as well keep a close eye on workers and property.
• High Quality 4K Camera – Capturing footage at a crisp 4K in 60FPS and with low-light technology to ensure footage can be captured at night as well, you can be certain that any evidence of criminal activity or behaviour captured is clear, easy to see and will provide invaluable help with any criminal proceedings or police investigation.
• Advanced Detection Systems – backed by AI analytics, you can be certain any intruder, no matter how careful or skilled, will be picked up and an alert sent out.
• Audio Alerts – pre-recorded messages which trigger when intruders are detected, warning them of the potential for prosecution.

Prime Secure CCTV Towers

The Construction Industry has been estimated to lose nearly £800 million every year because of theft and vandalism, and as such it’s more important than ever to ensure your property is kept safe. CCTV Towers are one of the best ways to do this.

Prime Secure CCTV Hire Service

Prime Secure has been providing expert CCTV Tower Security Services for 20 years and in that time, we’ve assisted everything from construction sites to office security. Our CCTV Towers have been especially designed to meet the needs of a range of clients and are built on our in the field experience. We recognise that different clients have different kind of security needs, and we offer a range of customisation and specialisation options to ensure you get the best experience you can out of our CCTV Towers.

Any installation we provide will be performed by in-house experts with full knowledge of the equipment; we don’t cut corners and we’ll guarantee you’re given a quick and effective service. We’ll also provide regular maintenance visits and callouts, as well as post-incident visits by our team of expert engineers. This will guarantee you’re given the best possible service, and guarantee you get the most out of our product.

Artificial Intelligence Options

Prime Secure have invested a great deal into developing high quality deep learning backed AI systems.

AI options provide additional measures to guarantee the security of your property; virtual tripwires allow for certain sites to be designated as being of specific impotence and special attention to be paid. AI furthermore avoids the false alarm errors made by traditional human monitoring, cutting down on any potential worries and ensuring far greater efficiency.

Eco Tower Options

Part of our range of options includes Eco CCTV Towers. Mounting a set of powerful solar panels, these are an excellent option if you want to avoid reliance on a generator or are trying to get away from sites with poor utilities or unreliable electricity. Solar-Panel systems are just as effective as standard options, offering 24/7 surveillance options, while they’re further backed up by a small wind turbine to provide additional power. If you’re looking to lower carbon emissions, it’s also a great alternative to more traditional designs.

Integration with existing security measures

Do you have manned guarding or static CCTV systems? These are perfect for CCTV Tower Integration. A CCTV Tower increase the surveillance of an existing CCTV system, allowing you a massive improvement in your ability to keep an eye on a large property. It can also be used to keep an eye over parts of the property which a traditional CCTV system might not be suitable for.

CCTV Towers work great alongside manned guarding services; the ability to send out alerts and issue alarms mean you can have your manned guarding services immediately alerted to an issue on your property. The same goes for if you are making use of mobile patrols. Any alert the CCTV Tower issues will be quickly picked up and responded to, ensuring any criminal or intruder is quickly apprehended.