Hannah Baxter

Solicitor at Levy & McRae Solicitors specialising in criminal defence

[Matthew McGovern @mcgovernlawyer]

Last week I represented a professional who had been accused of assaulting one of their children. If they had been convicted, their career would have been over. When I first met them, I advised that, in my opinion, the Legal Aid scheme simply didn’t allow me to discharge

[Edinburgh Bar Assoc. @EdinBarAssoc]

As a result of funding issues and staff shortages there have been no new Drug Treatment and Testing Orders imposed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for almost 12 months. As drug deaths continue to rise, users are deprived of vital support and the public subjected to drug related crime

[Stephanie Clinkscale @StephClink]

BROKEN

There are now just 357 criminal solicitors in private practice offering duty services. Not firms. Not offices. 357 individuals - in the whole of Scotland.

Well done @KeithBrownSNP @ScotGovJustice

@jamiegreeneUK @LiamKerrMSP

[Stephanie Clinkscale @StephClink]

BREAKING POINT

The number of solicitors providing criminal legal assistance in Scotland has now dropped below 1,000 for the first time since records began and the rate of departure has accelerated massively over the last year.

Well done @AshtenRegan @KeithBrownSNP

[Edinburgh Bar Assoc. @EdinBarAssoc]

https://t.co/Qd2OcyDHi0 An open letter to the Justice Committee and a very long list of work that did not exist when the fixed fee was envisaged

[Matthew Nicholson @Mnicholson23]

CN Defence currently looking for a Trainee Solicitor. Any interested applicants to contact [email protected]

[Scottish Solicitors Bar Association @scotscrimbar]

Excellent article in today's Herald. One would assume @KeithBrownSNP and @AshtenRegan would be keen to read about Scotland's 'entire criminal justice system on brink of collapse'...

https://t.co/s1uCmRmoZf

[Stephanie Clinkscale @StephClink]

I’ll help the Minister out: even if @scotgov increased current fee rates by 50%, they would still represent a 16.25% reduction from when the fixed fee was first set, allowing for inflation. She just doesn’t get it.

[Scottish Solicitors Bar Association @scotscrimbar]

The SSBA is disappointed to have to announce a further escalation in the ongoing dispute between the criminal bar and @scotgov. None of us want to leave clients unrepresented, but the lack of engagement from @AshtenRegan leaves us little choice...
https://t.co/5X0DsLe1bc

[Edinburgh Bar Assoc. @EdinBarAssoc]

EBA members have now withdrawn from all duty schemes at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. We cannot continue to prop up the justice system without vast work being done to address generations of underfunding. See https://t.co/Zr4bKy6fip for details.

[Matthew McGovern @mcgovernlawyer]

Last year SLAB were advertising vacancies with a salary of approximately £31k p.a. This year the starting salary is £38k p.a. If the PDSO are able to increase salaries to solve their retention crisis, why aren’t legal aid firms able to do the same? Why the double standards?

[Scottish Solicitors Bar Association @scotscrimbar]

Dozens of solicitors braved the icy conditions outside the Scottish Parliament today to protest against @ScotGovJustice continuing failure to address the crisis in criminal legal aid. The protest coincides with a mass boycott of holiday custody courts all over the country.

[Edinburgh Bar Assoc. @EdinBarAssoc]

We have sent the letter noted on our website at https://t.co/Zr4bKy6fip to the Sheriff Clerks at Edinburgh noting the action we are taking in response to yesterday's intrusion into work being carried out by one of our representatives in the Court cells.

[Edinburgh Bar Assoc. @EdinBarAssoc]

The @EdinBarAssoc has voted not to engage with proposed duty solicitor plans for the duration of COP26. Please see our website for our statement in respect of this and why we find ourselves in this position - https://t.co/Zr4bKy6fip

[Scottish Solicitors Bar Association @scotscrimbar]

The SSBA are fully supportive of the recent action taken by the GBA and ABA in boycotting holiday courts. The pay disparity between the criminal bar and all other parties has been well rehearsed, but this is about more than money, it is about work/life balance.

[Hannah Baxter @H_Baxter96]

@JulieTorley Thank you so much, I was delighted! Hope you had a good week in Aberdeen x

[Hannah Baxter @H_Baxter96]

Today I conducted my first summary criminal trial and the client was acquitted of both charges- happy Friday!

[Hannah Baxter @H_Baxter96]

@Palestalemale1 Thank you. All went well, definitely glad to have my first appearance ticked off!

[Hannah Baxter @H_Baxter96]

Today, three and a half months into my criminal defence traineeship, I put my own gown on for the first time and stood on my feet to represent a client in the sheriff court. There is definitely no feeling quite like it 👩🏻‍💼